Hunter reflects on his managerial interviews and staying in the mix for future opportunities.
The Minnesota Twins finished the 2025 season with a disappointing 70-92 record, which led to the firing of manager Rocco Baldelli at the end of September.
With the managerial vacancy opening in Minnesota, along with one in Los Angeles with the Angels, Twins legend Torii Hunter became a name that surfaced as a potential candidate for both positions given his history with each organization.
Hunter Discusses Managerial Interviews
Hunter recently appeared on the Metroplex Sportsparty on The Haymaker Network and opened up about his pursuit of a managerial role in Major League Baseball, revealing that he interviewed for both openings this past fall.
"I'm still thinking about it as we speak but just being with the Angels and the Twins, when I saw those vacancies, I know those organizations, so I went and put my name in the hat and interviewed and I thought the interview went well, but my years might've been too much for them," Hunter said.
The comment suggests that Hunter believes teams may have concerns about his lack of coaching experience at the professional level, even though he has spent the past several years working in advisory roles with both organizations.
Hunter served as a special assistant with the Twins from 2016 to 2023 before joining the Angels in the same capacity in 2024, where he has worked closely with former manager Ron Washington and built relationships with players throughout the organization.
A Twins Legend
Hunter's credentials as a player are beyond question. Over his 19-year career, the five-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner put together a Hall of Fame-caliber resume that included 2,452 hits, 353 home runs, and a .277 batting average.
He spent 12 of those seasons with the Twins, becoming one of the most beloved players in franchise history before also suiting up for the Angels from 2008-2012 and the Tigers from 2013-2014.
His final season in 2015 was a homecoming with Minnesota, and since hanging up his cleats, Hunter has remained active in baseball circles while also building a business empire in Texas that includes restaurants, coffee shops, a brewery, and a cigar lounge.
Despite the apparent setbacks in the managerial searches this offseason, Hunter made it clear on the podcast that he remains interested in managing and is keeping his options open.
The Twins ultimately went in a different direction with their hire, and the Angels selected former catcher Kurt Suzuki to take over as their new skipper.
For now, the 50-year-old Hunter continues to stay close to the game he loves while waiting for the right opportunity to take the next step in his baseball journey.