MINNEAPOLIS — Torii Hunter has played in 1,240 games as a Minnesota Twin. He’s played in 29 games at Target Field. But until Monday, Hunter had never played a game in the stadium as a member of the home club.
“Just walking through the home clubhouse, looking at the paintings on the wall, all the players I played with and the players before me who mentored me,” Hunter said. “It takes you back on memory lane. I’m happy to be back and be a part of the family again.”
Hunter played parts of 12 seasons in Minnesota before signing a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels following the 2007 season. During his final few months with the Twins that season, plans for Target Field were just starting to be released.
For years, Hunter had crashed into the center-field wall and burned his hands sliding on the turf at the Metrodome. Outdoor baseball was within sight for Hunter when he left town the first time, but he said he’s thrilled to be back — this time with the Twins script on his chest.
“My first time back with the Angels, I didn’t know what to expect,” Hunter said. “The fans all stood and clapped. It was emotional. I remember that first strikeout with the Angels, I almost walked back to the wrong dugout.”
The Twins need Hunter to get hot too. A dismal 1-5 start on the road against division foes Detroit and Chicago have put Minnesota in a hole to start the 2015 campaign.
Hunter has struggled too. After an 0-for-2 day at the plate with a walk and a sacrifice fly Monday in a 12-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Hunter’s batting average is down to .130.
“Everybody wants to get off to a great start,” Hunter said. “When you get off to a good start, it just makes everybody happy. It cures everything, talking about the fans, the players and just the organization. But I’ve seen 1-5 (stretches) throughout the season and they don’t get talked about as much.
“Starting off in the beginning, you feel like ‘This is what it’s going to be like all year.’ I definitely feel like we’re going to turn it around. We’re going to do some great things and we’re going to compete.”