The Angels announced over the weekend that former player Torii Hunter has joined the organization as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian. “It means a lot,” Hunter said, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. “This is a team that when I was in Minnesota and was a free agent, they adopted me and brought me in and treated me like a king here.”
Hunter, now 48, played in the big leagues from 1997 to 2015. As he alluded to, he began his career with the Twins and was with that club through the 2007 season, but he signed with the Angels and was with that club for the 2008 to 2012 campaigns. He then spent two years with the Tigers before returning with to the Twins in 2015.
Those five years that he spent with the Halos seem to have led to a strong relationship with the organization that continues to this day. The club had a managerial vacancy back in the fall after parting ways with Phil Nevin, and Hunter appeared to get serious consideration for the gig. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported at that time that Hunter is “tremendously regarded” by Angels owner Arte Moreno, though the job eventually went to Ron Washington.
From there, the club seemed interested in making Hunter first base coach but he declined to be considered for that position, citing his non-baseball commitments to business pursuits such as barbecue restaurants and cafes, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Now he will join the club in this special assistant role with unknown responsibilities, though the workload presumably allows him to be involved with the club but without having to travel with the team for the entire season, as he would have to do if he were part of the coaching staff.
Hunter played in 2,372 games in his career, collecting 2,452 hits, including 353 home runs.
He can impart knowledge such as where to get body tattoos done, how to act cool, and where to find some side action when the wife isn’t around.
And how not to wear a cup when you got “too much going on down there” (true story)
jerk
He said that exact thing on the jim rome show once
Racist comment
That’s a self own, bud.
hello. is that really you?
Voted for Trump?
So did bigoted sc**bag Torii Hunter.
Guy’s gonna rak… wait, he’s just a keyboard tapper.
Isn’t this the same position George Constanza had with the Yankees?
Yes and No. It was a character in a Sitcom. Can’t you separate fantasy from reality??? Good Day Sir!!!
Lol I.M you need to watch more Seinfeld.
@ I. M if you really thought I was mad when I wrote that U.R Insane
It’s the one he tried to get, but when Steinbrenner thought he was dead, he gave away. He went back to his job as Assistant to the Traveling Secretary
If only that would make a difference. Sick organization.
Can he pitch? Suarez should not be on a major league roster.
Nether should Moniak. I guess he might get a hit, by June
You could probably say that just about anyone Angels pitcher not named Detmers.
@prov I’m still mystified as to how Suarez made the cut and they let go of Pomerantz. — maybe I should check Pomerantz’s milb stats before making this comment, but he looked better than Suarez this spring.
Suarez should have been let go last year and here he is still taking up a roster spot. The player decisions this team makes is baffling. He had a small period of success a few years ago and they think that’s the new norm when that was an anomaly.
Agreed. I think Strickland and Pomerantz should’ve made the opening day roster over Suarez and Zuñiga in the pen.
@orange2001 Strickland is pitching in the minors, not sure if he has opt out. They picked up Garrett atleast he’s a lefty. I’m sure saurez and Cisnero are on the chopping block. Garcia isn’t much better but the contract will guarantee his spot.
@prov356 saurez is on his way out have a feeling Soriano is ready to take over any day as the long man. Probably when Stephenson comes back
I hope you’re correct.
He already has a higher WAR this season than the entirety of the Angel infield combined!
Well they have a winning record. War is mythical, and wins aren’t
That oughta do it.
Organization fixed.
Ironically they still need two things: 1) a proven starter that can shut down an offense and give the bullpen a rest and 2) a proven bat to protect Trout.
Unfortunately that was Snell and JD Martinez.
congrats to Torii.
I know I am a rare breed in that I refuse to bow down to the negativity that most of you convey on here.
Welcome to the Internet where anger, hatred and jealousy rules the world
That’s an unfortunate perspective for you to have. Reap what you sow?
I think a lot of hatred would cease on here if the commenters were required to have their avatar changed to their favorite MLB team. Then what a disaster they root for. “Know what Im sayin? Well Do ya” W.A.R. Double Talkin Jive
Love Torii in an Angels uniform. Saw him in Spring Training.
I wonder if they are grooming him for a manager or bench coach role.
Fun Fact- Tori’s Agent and Angel GM Tony Reagan negotiated Tori’s contract at a Del Taco Resturant in Fullerton, Ca
Angels doing this to take some of the heat off Arte Moreno. The ballclub’s owner was booed so strongly on Opening Night that he’s been edited out of their pre-game montage on the video board.
REally? I was wondering if something like that was going to happen. I support the booing. Arte, please sell the team to someone with credibility.
Torii was the man while in MN. Congrats
Yet a Legend like Rod Carew is still black balled. When Moreno (he’s your uncle) first came he portrayed himself as a baseball man. Now the team is like a political organization with a handful of explayer loyalists given plum no show jobs in return for loyalty to the owner.
why is carew blackballed?
Theres something in common about all these new Angels hirers but I can’t quite put my finger on it