Torii Hunter's seven-year "spiritual journey" is over.
Hunter, 39, of Pine Bluff, spent the first 11 years of his major-league baseball career with the Minnesota Twins before signing with the Los Angeles Angels in 2008, where he played the next five years. He then signed with the Detroit Tigers, where he spent two years before returning to the Twins last month after signing a one-year, $10.5 million deal.
Less than a month before the Twins report for spring training, Hunter was back in Little Rock on Thursday night to attend another homecoming of sorts, taking part in Home Runs and Heroes at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, his wife Susan and UAPB Chancellor Laurence Alexander also were on hand for the event that helps raise money for the Torii Hunter Complex, a baseball and softball facility at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Hunter donated $250,000 toward Phase II of the complex Thursday, which will be used for the clubhouse. Phase II also will include the installation of a turf infield at the baseball field.
"We still have some work to be done, but I wanted to get the clubhouse done," Hunter said. "That was the biggest part of the funding, so I decided to get it taken care of."
Hunter is expected play right field this summer for his former teammate Paul Molitor, who was hired earlier in the offseason to replace Ron Gardenhire as the Twins' manager.
"He was my mentor," Hunter said. "It comes back full circle."
Hunter batted .286 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI last season as the Tigers won the American League Central but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in three games in the American League division series. The five-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner has a career batting average of .279 with 331 home runs and 1,310 RBI over his 18 major-league seasons.
Hunter turns 40 on July 18, but he's noncommital on retirement.
"I don't know if it's going to be my last year, but if I go out there and win a World Series and hit .330, I've got to leave this well dry," Hunter said. "I don't want to have something left in my body and call it quits. I want to make sure it's all dried up."
When asked why he signed with the Twins, Hunter pointed to the team's younger players, such as outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and shortstop Danny Santana.
"These guys know how to play the game," Hunter said. "One thing I might have seen is inexperience. They didn't finish. They're hitting balls hard and playing good defense. They're on the right track."
Hunter also was joined by Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, a Benton native and former University of Arkansas pitcher. Lee said he was glad to help out Hunter.
"This is something he's passionate about," Lee said. "It makes sense to help the guy. He's a great person. Living here in Little Rock, it's not requiring too much out of me to support him. A lot of people are affected in a positive way, so this is something I want to support."
Lee, 36, suffered a flexor pronator strain in his left elbow last season and was 4-5 with a 3.65 ERA in just 13 starts. He said Thursday he has thrown six bullpen sessions this offseason and that he should be ready for spring training next month.
Coach Carlos James, whose UAPB team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title last season, said Hunter's contributions have helped UAPB's baseball program become more diverse.
"It's a program where people can look at and say that's how it's supposed to be," James said. "This is 2015. We have a really good diversity. We can touch everybody in our city."
Sports on 01/30/2015