Baseball profile: Torii Hunter—Minnesota Twins - Interview

Baseball Digest, March, 2003 by Rick Sorci

FULL NAME: Torii Kedar Hunter

AGE, HT., Wr: 27, 6-2, 210

Born: July 28, 1975 in Pine Bluff Arkansas

HOME: The Colony, Texas

STATUS/FAMILY: Married with three children

Nickname: T-Nuts

LIFE OUTSIDE BASEBALL: I'm a family man. Outside of baseball, I'm more family-orientated and spend time with them.

SPORTS HERO WHEN I WAS YOUNG: Bo Jackson. He could do it all.

PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME THE MOST: First of all it's God, who has influenced me and pushed me. Also my older brother, Taru, who is my inspiration.

PLAYERS, PAST OR PRESENT, I'D PAY TO WATCH PLAY: Alex Rodriguez and Willie Mays

BEST ADVICE ANYONE EVER GAVE ME: Always do the best you can, so you can't look back and say you didn't.

HOBBIES: I like to bowl and kick back with Playstation

TYPE OF CAR: GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade

FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Wesley Snipes and Halle Berry

FAVORITE MOVIE: Friday

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Martin

FAVORITE MUSIC: Rhythm and Blues

FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken fried rice

FAVORITE BALLPARK: Jacobs Field and Oriole Park at Camden Yards

FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: The Dallas Cowboys

CHARACTERISTIC I ADMIRE MOST IN A PERSON: Humbleness, because that's the way I am. I just ride the wave. Whatever happens, happens.

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE/WHY? When I went to the 2002 All-Star game. I had so much fun. It's something you dream of as a baseball player. It was a dream come true for me. All the hype that goes with it, being in the home run derby contest and making the catch against Barry Bonds (taking a home run away from him). That was the best time of my life.

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT BASEBALL IT WOULD BE: If a pitcher hits you on purpose then you can hit him back (laughs).

IF NOT A BASEBALL PLAYER I WOULD HAVE BEEN: An engineer. That's something I always wanted to do because that's what my dad does.

BEHIND MY BACK THEY SAY: That I work hard and play hard.

TOUGHEST PITCHER I'VE FACED: I'd have to say Pedro Martinez. He's not easy to hit at all.

LIFE AFTER BASEBALL: I think it will be nice. I'll be a big family man. I'll be at my little boys' football and basketball games. I'll try to join in all the things I missed while playing baseball.

MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT:. There haven't been too many disappointments. Losing to the Angels in the ALCS is one.

MY MOST EMBARRASSING BASEBALL EXPERIENCE: One year in the minor leagues, I fouled a ball off my foot and it bounced up and hit me in the crotch. I never used to wear a cup back then. I went down holding that area. The next day, my teammates let me have it good. They put several cups in my locker. I wear one now.

MY MOST MEMORABLE GAME: Definitely the 2002 All-Star game. It was something special. I went in just wanting to have fun, and I did. I was a starter. It's something I'll never forget. I'll keep the pictures and someday be able to show my grandchildren that I played in that game.