Twins’ Torii Hunter Seeking Front Office Job an Ambitious Quest
Long-time Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale recently that he has ambitions of becoming a front office executive for Minnesota one day. Not just any executive though — Hunter wants to oversee duties as a General Manager:
"“I really want to get into that front office, make some changes, and build a team that I want to build. I’d love to learn everything from Terry [Ryan]. He’ll be a mentor. One day, that’s my goal, to be GM of the Twins.”"
There is zero questioning Hunter’s legacy as a baseball player. One of the more apt defensive outfielders of his generation, Hunter has nine Gold Gloves on his resume to go with five All-Star game appearances and over 2000 career hits. Even last year in his age 38 season, the Pine Bluff, AR, native compiled a .286-17-83 line, more than holding his own in the Detroit Tigers’ lineup.
Off the field, Hunter’s credibility in a high-profile front office position that affords a man a certain amount of power may come into question.
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Spider Man has no formal post secondary education. Not that it’s a pre-requisite for a job like General Manager or anything — a person either knows the game, can recognize talent and comprehends the economic policies associated with pro baseball, or they don’t. Hunter has been around baseball long enough that his high school education should be more than formidable after a few years of mentorship and tutelage under a veteran on the business side of things who could take him under their wings.
Where Hunter’s credibility falls into question stems from his outspoken ways and a propensity to be brash with the media. It’s not that there is no place for politics in Major League Baseball, because politics dwell in any and every American institution that exists. But calling a member of the media a “prick” at a press conference is not something a GM would ever live down. With great power comes great responsibility, and a GM knows better than to get heavily involved in public debates on gay marriage and whatnot.
Hunter first declined the opportunity to stay neutral in 2012 when questioned about rumors of a homosexual teammate while with the Los Angeles Angels, saying, “For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable because, in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it’s not right. It will be difficult and uncomfortable.” Then again in 2014 he played the part of preacher/politician instead of ball player. An in-depth and well put together write-up on Deadspin concerning the matter can be viewed here. The piece more or less reiterates Hunter’s disdain for same-sex marriages.
Hunter has also been vocal about MLB’s preferential approach to scout and sign talented IFAs (primarily of Latin American ethnicities) at a young age as opposed to a young African-American kids represented by a professional agencies because they are much more low cost. In essence, Hunter is being a proponent of his own race and and an opposition to MLB functions and the inferred exploitation of young Latin American adolescents being recruited by clubs on the regular.
If Hunter understands how the latter is more fiscally effective, his comments do not back that up. Being a professional athlete is one thing. You are a representative of an organization. Being a General Manager makes you a leader as well as a representative. Much more accountability comes with your actions and words. If one cannot refrain from discussing sensitive issues that can get you into hot water, then you do not set acceptable examples for your players and coaches underneath you.
Hunter’s past no doubt will linger below the surface of his future accomplishments and expectations. Any members of the media conglomerates that make up the greater Minneapolis area who are pro LGBT will be watching for Hunter to slip up if he moves into a front office job. Controversy and negative press is a good thing for selling newspapers and subscribing online users to their websites.
When it comes to being the GM of a professional sports organization, there is such a thing as bad publicity. Given Hunter’s past, he needs to understand that the job of a front office representative is to build a winning product on the field. That is all. If he wishes to be vocal on more government related topics outside of baseball, maybe political activism and lobbying better suits Torii Hunter’s model for a fulfilling post-playing career after he hangs up his Twins jersey.