What’s next for Torii Hunter? The 31-year-old outfielder has arguably been the Twins’ spring MVP and top newsmaker. Yesterday he hit two home runs and batted in a career record seven base runners as the team stopped a four game losing streak with a 16-4 win over Detroit. Last week he saw a career best 23 game hitting streak end.
Hunter leads the team in RBI’s (29), is second in home runs (eight) and among the club leaders in batting average (.324) , and also courage. When he’s not producing hits, crashing into the fence making memorable catches in the outfield or shaking off a baseball colliding with his mouth, he’s been preaching patience to the media and public about the slow starting Twins season.
Hunter’s 23 game hitting streak is eight behind the team record set by Ken Landreaux at 31. Brian Harper, 25, and Lenny Green, 24, had longer streaks, too. A streak of 30 games or more is privileged territory in major league baseball and season after season can roll by when no one reaches that level. Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting record is one of sport’s most hallowed records.
Manager Ron Gardenhire was asked about Hunter last Thursday morning, only hours before Hunter’s hitting streak ended. He said Hunter’s ability, experience, and good health and fortune contributed to the streak.
What happens to players when their hitting streaks reach 30 or more games? “I know when I was in Little League and I had like a 25 game hitting streak my hands were around my collar all the time so I can only imagine what it would be at the big league level,” Gardenhire said. “It’s obviously the pressure put on by the more attention you get…if it (Hunter’s streak) continues it’s gonna get hard. It’s already tough enough just trying to play the game and win ball games, and then you add that on top of it, a hitting streak. …”
DiMaggio’s record? “It’s incredible,” Gardenhire said. “He was probably one of the greatest hitters of all time, if not the greatest hitter of all time, and to be able to have a streak like that…goodness, gracious. Speed plays a part in it. You gotta be able to leg out some hits but he had a great swing. Back in the day I don’t know how much press it got. … It’s probably tougher now in this day and age because of the press.”
Gardenhire admires Hunter’s approach to baseball. “He’s an old school baseball player,” he said. “He’ll run around. He’ll give up his body to make a play. He was taught a long time ago about the importance of catching the ball and playing defense. He loves it out there everyday playing defense. He’s not afraid to dive. He’s not afraid to hit the turf. He just plays.”