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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Nick Selbe

Torii Hunter’s Hall of Fame Case Is Stronger Than You’d Think

Torii Hunter Hall of Fame Hall Andruw Jones Kirby Puckett Twins Minnesota Mike Trout
Hunter was one of the most well-rounded and consistent players in baseball for 15 years.

Leon Halip/USA TODAY Sports

Torii Hunter’s mentor and center field predecessor with the Twins was Kirby Puckett. The player who eventually pushed Hunter to the corner outfield for good was Mike Trout. One is in the Hall of Fame, and the other is sure to be enshrined at the soonest possible moment. Whether Hunter gets the call to join them is another question entirely.

Though Hunter didn’t immediately follow Puckett as Minnesota’s perennial Gold Glove center fielder, the pair were the defining defensive stars for their respective eras. Puckett won six Gold Gloves from 1986 to ’92; Hunter won nine straight from 2001 to ’09. Over the past 57 years, the Twins have made the playoffs 13 times. They have not won a postseason game during that span without either Puckett or Hunter on the roster.

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