![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MLB-All-Star-Game-Futures-Game-10955198-scaled-e1746136581180.jpg\")
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Twins are trying to get their season back on track, something that isn\u2019t easy when you start out 4-11<\/a> like they did. Since, they\u2019ve looked like a slinky falling down the stairs, expanding with three or four wins, before retracting back with a few losses.<\/p>\n If they cannot rebound, the finger will be pointed<\/a> at Rocco Baldelli. Is he the one that put a sudden brake lock on the player budget two years ago? No. Is he the one who developed their pitching strategy or analytic-heavy approach in general? No.<\/p>\n But if the proverbial shit hits the fan, there\u2019s only one place to turn. Sure, they\u2019d sell at the deadline, maybe even deal Carlos Correa if he is healthy. But Derek Falvey was just promoted to team president<\/a> and Levine was already shown the door last offseason.<\/p>\n Should the Minnesota Twins fail to right their 2025 ship, it\u2019ll probably be Baldelli who gets the ceremonious axe. And if that happens\u2026 who would they target as the new manager? Well, we aren\u2019t far enough down that road for any names to start surfacing.<\/p>\n Torii Hunter available to manage if Minnesota Twins need a guy\u2026?<\/p>\n Enter MN Twins legend Torii Hunter, who\u2019s living in Los Angeles, and has stayed active in baseball circles since retiring after the 2015 season, which he actually spent with the Twins. Currently, Hunter is a special assistant with the Angels<\/a>. LA\u2019s manager Ron Washington believes Torii would be a great manager himself someday.<\/p>\n Well on Thursday, Hunter went on his old pal AJ Pierzynski\u2019s \u201cFoul Territory\u201d Podcast<\/a> and told the baseball world that, while he is busy with a lot of business stuff right now, his heart is in baseball and he would be open to managing a team in the future\u2026<\/p>\n Torii Hunter says he could see himself managing one day.<\/p>\n “I’ve definitely built a rapport with some of the players and also learned a lot from Ron Washington and all the other coaches in there as well.” pic.twitter.com\/rDYjxDcaLx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 1, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cI try to stay around Ron Washington as much I can, and get a report from players, get to know them. And you know, the last couple years man I\u2019ve definitely built a rapport with some of the players and also learned a lot from Ron Washington and all the other coaches in there, as well.<\/p>\n But yeah man, when I\u2019m there man\u2026 my stress level is down, I\u2019m where I supposed to be. I enjoy it, my wife said I come back happier, and it\u2019s just it\u2019s a great place to be, for me. And yes, I can see myself managing one day\u2026 if I\u2019m allowed to.\u201d<\/p>\n Torii Hunter \u2013 Foul Territory Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n After his one encore season in Minnesota, to end his Major League Baseball career, Torii Hunter wound up playing 12 seasons in a Twins uniform. That, out of 19 total big league seasons<\/a>, where he spent five years as an Angel and two as a Detroit Tiger.<\/p>\n Hunter was so damn good when he played\u2026<\/p>\n As a Twin, Hunter hit .268 with a .783 OPS. Minnesota let him walk in free agency, and that proved to be a mistake. When Torii left after the 2007 season, the then 32-year-old was coming off of the second All-Star game appearance of his career. His first came in 2002.<\/p>\n Torii Hunter career stats<\/a> (1997-2015): .277 BA | .793 OPS | 110 OPS+ | 50.6 WAR<\/p>\n MN Twins Hall of Fame<\/p>\n 9 Gold Gloves (CF)<\/p>\n 5 All Star Games<\/p>\n 2 Silver Sluggers (CF)<\/p>\n By 2009 with the Angels, he became an All-Star again, then he made it the next year too. In fact, Torii Hunter wasn\u2019t done with All-Star Games, even after he left the Angels, well into his 30s. In 2013<\/a>, a 37 year old Hunter hit .304 with a .800 OPS and made his fifth and final ASG.<\/p>\n Related: Revealed: Twins\u2019 Short-Term Plan for Royce Lewis + Matt Wallner is His Own Worst Enemy<\/a><\/p>\n Hunter played in the big leagues so long because he could hit. No matter how good your glove is, 18 years in the big leagues requires you to be a good hitter. But let\u2019s be real\u2026 Torii built his incredible baseball reputation on defense and proved to be one of the greatest defensive center fielders in MLB history, when it was all said and done.<\/p>\n We could watch Torii Hunter highlights all day.<\/p>\n Happy birthday to the 9x Gold Glove Award winner! pic.twitter.com\/aMtVkzMR4k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB Vault (@MLBVault) July 18, 2023<\/a> <\/p>\n But would the second best center fielder in Minnesota Twins franchise history make a good manager? Who the hell knows. But if Ron Washington is in on Hunter, then so am I. So, should the Minnesota Twins fire Rocco Baldelli after this season, or anytime in the near future, I\u2019d love to see Torii Hunter brought in for an interview.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Torii Hunter<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Torii](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MLB-Cleveland-Indians-at-Minnesota-Twins-9391066-788x525.jpg\")
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n