Torii Hunter, an all-star outfielder for the Minnesota Twins is expected to be a much sought after free agent this winter. It could end up resulting in a bright spring for the Washington Nationals, as Hunter recently told MLB.com that he is strongly considering Washington as a potential employer next season.
Citing a solid friendship with Nationals first baseman and National League Comeback Player of the Year Dmitri Young, and a desire to play in a city with a large African-American population, Hunter said that Washington and Atlanta are two specific teams he is targeting.
“I always talk to my wife about being interested in playing in front of the African-American fans and trying to get the African Americans back to playing the game,” he said. “If I go to Atlanta or D.C. and make a difference that way, I would love it. Trust me — D.C. is very interesting to me as well as Atlanta.”
Hunter has long been an outspoken advocate on encouraging African-Americans to play and watch baseball, and this would be a power move for the franchise. Getting a solid player with national recognizability and a conscience for social change within the sport bodes well for a team in a political town trying to fill a new stadium. It will be interesting to see if the Nationals step up to the plate and open up their wallet to get such a valuable player.
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