Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter is a Major League Baseball player. He is currently an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

In 2008, Hunter earned his eighth straight gold glove award for his defensive play during the season. Hunter had won his previous seven gold gloves as a center fielder for the Minnesota Twins. This was his first gold glove for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 2008 was his first season with the Angels after signing a five year deal with the team. MLB.com: Hunter golden in the field for eighth time (November 6, 2008)

Torii Kedar Hunter was born in Pine Bluff, Arizona on July 18, 1975. He attended Pine Bluffs High School. In 1993, Hunter was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the 20th pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Hunter made his MLB debut on August 22, 1997 with the Minnesota Twins. His breakout season came in 1999 when he played in 135 games with 9 home runs and 35 runs batted in. In 2001, Hunter played in 148 games, finishing with a .280 batting average and earning his first of six Gold Glove Awards. In 2002, he was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game and came in sixth in voting for the MLB Most Valuable Player Award. Hunter made his first postseason appearance that same year, reaching the American League Championship Series, where they lost to the Anaheim Angels. On November 21, 2007, Hunter signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a reported five-year $90 million contract. He is currently the Angels' starting center fielder for the 2008 season.

In April of 2007, Hunter was involved in a minor controversy over violating an MLB policy for giving gifts to opposing teams. Hunter sent the Kansas City Royals four bottles of Dom Perignon champagne, to reward the Royals for sweeping the Detroit Tigers during a critical series in 2006, and allowing the Twins to win the American League Central. After Hunter and the Twins management realized that it was a violation of MLB rules, the champagne was returned.