Torii Kedar Hunter was born on 18 July 1975, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. He is a former professional baseball player, best known for playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) with teams such as the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Minnesota Twins. He’s a five-time All-Star, with his efforts having put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Torii Hunter? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $60 million, mostly earned through a successful career in professional baseball. Prior to retiring, he was earning around $10.5 million a year as a player. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards. All of these ensured the position of his wealth.
Torii Hunter Net Worth $60 million
Torii attended Pine Bluff High School and used sports as an outlet, as he and his brothers played baseball, football, basketball and track. He would play sports for various teams at his high school, and eventually became particularly known for his baseball skills. He became part of the US Junior Olympic team in 1992, and was then offered a place at Pepperdine University, however, he opted to go straight into professional baseball instead.
Hunter was selected by the Minnesota Twins as their first round Draft pick in 1993, and would make his first major league appearance four years later. However, he only had a little playing time until 1999, when he was given the chance to play regularly. The following year, he started to showcase his skills, but was put back to Triple-A to improve some aspects of his game. Eventually, after a good run in the minor leagues, he was called back to the main roster and was rewarded by being named as the Best Defensive Outfielder by Baseball America. In 2001 his statistics further improved, leading the team in outfield assists, bats, and home runs, and helping the team to a winning season, also winning his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award. His salary and growing net worth was certainly justified.
The following year, Hunter became a contender for the Most Valuable Player Award and was selected to become part of the All-Star game. The whole Twins team improved as well and they would win the American League Central Division, but would lose in the ALCS against the Anaheim Angels. Despite losing, Hunter was rewarded with the Calvin R. Griffith Award as Most Valuable Twin, and got his second Gold Glove. In 2003, Torii had difficulty offensively, but his defense remained solid, earning him his third straight Gold Glove. He missed half of the 2005 season because of injury, but stayed with the Twins until the 2007 season.
He turned down a three-year $45 million offer from Minnesota, and instead signed a $90 million five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. During this time, he was considered as one of the greatest players in the league, achieving a three home-run feat during 2009, and would continue to make All-Star appearances.
Eventually, after the 2011 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers, who gave him a two-year $26 million contract that boosted his net worth even further. As part of the Tigers, he hit his 300th career home run and would have his final selection to the All-Star Game. In December 2014, Torii would agree to a $10.5 million one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, completing the season before retiring.
For his personal life, it is known that Torii Hunter married Katrina whom he met during high school. He has three sons, the eldest of whom plays baseball and football at Notre Dame. His younger son joined the Arkansas State University football team. Aside from baseball, Hunter remains active in terms of charity work. He started the “Torii Hunter Project Education Initiative” which aims to give college scholarships to students in several cities. He also contributes to the Big Brothers and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
