ANAHEIM, Calif. — Torii Hunter was blindsided by the news his teenage son had been arrested. On the flight back home to Texas two weeks ago, he went through a litany of emotions — confusion, guilt, fear.
The Los Angeles Angels’ right fielder and clubhouse leader had to be a dad, shelving his high-paying job on the West Coast for more important duties. He’s ready to return to baseball, but only because he’s confident his son will be all right.
“I’ve sacrificed a lot for baseball, but I’m not sacrificing my family,” Hunter said. “I love them more than baseball, and I love this game.”
Hunter rejoined the Los Angeles Angels on Monday after a 14-game absence. The veteran outfielder didn’t come off the Angels’ restricted list before they opened a three-game series with the New York Yankees, but Hunter thinks he’ll be ready to play soon.
Hunter left the Angels on May 14, a few hours after 17-year-old Darius McClinton-Hunter was arrested in a sexual assault case in Prosper, Texas, the upscale Dallas suburb where the Hunter family lives.
Hunter has been on the Angels' restricted list for two weeks. The outfielder left the club after one of his sons was arrested in Texas in connection with a sexual assault investigation. Hunter returned to Southern California on Sunday and worked out at Angel Stadium as the club was ending a series in Seattle.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters that "we'll see" how fit Hunter is when he works out with the team before Monday's game against the New York Yankees. Scioscia added that Hunter has been active during his time away.
"He has been hitting–in the (batting) cage, off the tee and he's actually taken some live (batting practice)," Scioscia said, according to the newspaper. "He's been able to run, throw a little bit. But you want to assess him in a full workout. There's going to be some stiffness he's got to work through.
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