One of the most respected players in Major League Baseball has called it quits, as Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter announced his retirement earlier this week. Unfortunately for him, he will do so without a World Series ring, but he has absolutely nothing to regret when it comes to his career.
Hunter decided it was time to focus on his family and be a father to his son, Torii Hunter Jr., who is a wide receiver at Notre Dame.
The Twins confirmed the news on Monday night, and Hunter claims that he went into this season knowing it would most likely be his last. He did not want to say anything before or during the season because the outfielder wanted to refrain from becoming a distraction.
The five-time All-Star began and finished his career with the Twins, along with stops in Detroit with the Tigers, and Anaheim with the Angels. He signed a one-year deal with Minnesota last off-season, and was even able to lead the young team into a surprising playoff race down the stretch.
Hunter came in as a star center fielder but played right field and DH this season. He finished the year batting .240 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games. He did finish with a career-low .702 OPS, but led his team to a chance to participate in the AL Wild Card game.
The gold-glove outfielder played in 2,372 games in his career, and compiled a .277 career average with 353 home runs and 1,391 RBI with three different teams. His best year came in 2007, his final season with the Twins, when he hit .287 with 28 home runs, 18 steals and a career-high 45 doubles and 107 RBIs.
As much as the league will miss having Hunter's smiling face in an outfield, and despite not winning a ring, Torii Hunter left the game exactly the way he wanted to.
Hunter decided it was time to focus on his family and be a father to his son, Torii Hunter Jr., who is a wide receiver at Notre Dame.
The Twins confirmed the news on Monday night, and Hunter claims that he went into this season knowing it would most likely be his last. He did not want to say anything before or during the season because the outfielder wanted to refrain from becoming a distraction.
The five-time All-Star began and finished his career with the Twins, along with stops in Detroit with the Tigers, and Anaheim with the Angels. He signed a one-year deal with Minnesota last off-season, and was even able to lead the young team into a surprising playoff race down the stretch.
Hunter came in as a star center fielder but played right field and DH this season. He finished the year batting .240 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games. He did finish with a career-low .702 OPS, but led his team to a chance to participate in the AL Wild Card game.
The gold-glove outfielder played in 2,372 games in his career, and compiled a .277 career average with 353 home runs and 1,391 RBI with three different teams. His best year came in 2007, his final season with the Twins, when he hit .287 with 28 home runs, 18 steals and a career-high 45 doubles and 107 RBIs.
As much as the league will miss having Hunter's smiling face in an outfield, and despite not winning a ring, Torii Hunter left the game exactly the way he wanted to.
