First Pitch Today at Target Field Will be Special

Mar 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) raises his arms to get the crowd pumped up in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 121-113. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

As a kid growing up in Minnesota I was lucky enough to watch Kevin Garnett and Torii Hunter play in their primes. Garnett brought fans to their feet at the Target Center with his intensity and thunderous dunks. Hunter got fans out of their seats at the Metrodome with his diving catches in centerfield.

Garnett is by far one of the most popular, if not thee most popular professional athlete in Minnesota sports history. The Big Ticket put the Timberwolves franchise on the map. KG led the Timberwolves to eight-consecutive playoff appearances. In 2004 he was named Most Valuable Player and helped lead the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. As we all know, Garnett was traded in 2007 to the Boston Celtics after playing 12 seasons with the Timberwolves.

Hunter might be the most beloved Minnesota Twin player of this generation. All Hunter did in a Twins uniform was win Gold Glove after Gold Glove. Hunter won the Gold Glove every year from 2001-2007. Hunter helped the Twins win the AL Central ’02, ’03, ’04 and ’06. Hunter, like KG, left Minnesota in 2007.

Back in December, the Twins announced that they signed Hunter to a one year deal. In February, Garnett waived his no-trade clause to be traded back to the Timberwolves.

Garnett will throw out the first pitch today at Target Field. The man catching that pitch will be Hunter. Both players are far from what they used to be, but, both their careers have come full circle. They are back where it all started and both are trying to help get their respective teams back to where they used to be.