Minnesota Twins: The 40 Best Players In Team History (No. 16-20)
No. 16: Torii Hunter (26.4 WAR)
There’s never been a human highlight reel like Torii Hunter during his first stint with the Minnesota Twins. He won seven of his nine Gold Glove Awards during his time in Minnesota. He also was named to two All-Star squads while he was a Twin. While defense was a big part of that, his offense made him a complete player.
Hunter hit 214 home runs as a Twin, good for fifth on the Twins all-time list. He hit 20 or more home runs in seven seasons with the Twins, including 31 in 2006. His last season, in 2015, featured 22 homers. While his offense was great, and his defense was exciting, he could also steal bases.
He stole over 20 bases three separate times and is fifth in Twins history with 128 career swipes. With all of the different assets to his game, it is no wonder Hunter racked up so many wins above replacement.
He recorded 3.1 or more wins above replacement every season from 2001 to 2007. His best year, according to WAR, in a Twins uniform came in 2001 when he racked up 4.7. His value to the Twins was unmatched for many years, and it showed with his individual accolades and the success of the team.
Hunter was enshrined in the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2016, and it was well-deserved. His incredible combination of power, speed and defensive prowess made him one of the best all-around talents during his playing days. His value is shown in the wins he helped the Twins get.