PINE BLUFF -- Torii Hunter is enjoying his time off -- for now.
He's not sure how long it will last once he realizes he's getting more downtime than he's used to, though.
Seven weeks after officially announcing his retirement following a 19-year career with three major league teams, Hunter returned Thursday alongside family to Taylor Field in Pine Bluff, the park at which he honed his craft as a youth and high school player.
Greeted by an estimated 250 local supporters and fans, Hunter accepted a plaque commemorating his induction into the Pine Bluff Junior Babe Ruth Hall of Fame from earlier this year, along with a banner that will be hung at Pine Bluff High School, his alma mater.
During a speech to those assembled and a question-and-answer session with local youth players, Hunter touched on his rise through Pine Bluff High School, his decision to play baseball over football and his retirement plans. He said he's content with calling it a career after 19 seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers in which he hit .277, belted 353 home runs, won nine Gold Gloves and was named to five All-Star teams.
It's December, though. Hunter, 40, said he's always fine with time off around the holidays. He's wondering what his emotions will be in a couple of months when so many people he knows are gearing up for spring training.
"I think it'll probably set in then," said Hunter, while signing baseballs, caps and shirts for kids, teenagers and adults. "I think I might go crazy, and my wife will probably kick me out of the house."
Hunter is the father of three boys, two of whom play college football, and the grandfather of two girls.
He spent almost two decades becoming arguably the most accomplished baseball player from Arkansas since Brooks Robinson -- Hunter's 353 career home runs and 1,391 RBI are the most for an Arkansan. He said Thursday he's "at peace" with calling it quits after spending two years deciding whether to retire or keep going.
Hunter said the only downside is that he's ending his career without having played on a team that reached the World Series. He reached the playoffs eight times -- including the American League Championship Series in 2002 with the Twins, in 2009 with the Angels and 2013 with the Tigers -- but never played in the World Series.
"So, of course, it's not complete," he said. "That's something that's always going to be there. There's nothing I can do about it, but I'm at peace with going home and just relaxing, just being with my family."
What will he do now? Hunter is noncommittal about his immediate plans. He was in New Orleans last week to watch Arkansas State -- where his son Money is a junior defensive back -- lose to Louisiana Tech in the New Orleans Bowl. Next week, he'll watch son Torii Jr., a junior wide receiver, play football for Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.
Next fall, he plans to watch both sons play as much as possible.
Hunter speculated his future could be in TV. He said he already has offers from FOX, the MLB Network and ESPN to join their broadcast teams. He hasn't said yes to any of them, but he didn't say it's out of the question, even as early as next season.
"Right now, it's on hold," Hunter said. "I've never had a chance to relax and chill. So, I'm just going to kick back and the offer is going to be there. 'You want me, I don't need you.' But that's the best thing about the chase -- you get them to fight against each other and you make them bid out. They just said, 'Whenever you're ready, we're ready.' So that's pretty cool."
When that happens, Hunter will have the expertise of two decades in baseball with which to draw analysis. He said the possibility for longevity is one of the reasons he picked baseball over football while in high school, and that was perhaps one of his better accomplishments.
Thirteen times since 2001 he played 139 or more games in a season, and his 2,372 career games ranked third among active players when he announced his retirement.
Do all the statistics piled up during those games make him Hall of Fame caliber? Hunter is pleased with what he accomplished whether they are or not.
"Just to be considered, I'm honored," Hunter said. "But, at the same time, if the numbers don't match up, they don't match up. I did what I had to do. I made an impact in the game. Whether that's Hall of Fame worthy, that's in somebody else's hands."
Sports on 12/25/2015