Minnesota Twins Hire Torii Hunter, LaTroy Hawkins, Michael Cuddyer As Baseball Operations Assistants

The Minnesota Twins announced Monday that they have hired former Twins Torii Hunter, LaTroy Hawkins and Michael Cuddyer as special assistants to baseball operations.

Minnesota Twins Hire Torii Hunter, LaTroy Hawkins, Michael Cuddyer

“I think the biggest thing is all three of us were professionals,” Cuddyer, 37, said on a media teleconference. “We went about our business professionally. That in itself can rub off on players. There’s more to being a great baseball player than just your numbers on the field.”

All three former players were drafted by the Twins in the 1990s, Hunter and Cuddyer in the first round, Hawkins in the seventh. All three retired following the 2015 season in order to spend more time with their families.

Cuddyer was drafted in 1997 and played 15 seasons as a right fielder in the major leagues, including 11 seasons with Minnesota from 2001-11. The two-time All-Star (2011 with Twins and 2013 with Rockies) played 1,139 career games with the Twins, hitting 141 home runs with 580 RBI.

Cuddyer’s responsibilities will include helping position player development by concentrating on transition programs and teaching an understanding of MLB expectations, environment and culture. He will also be involved in the amateur draft process and will be a continuing resource for player acquisitions, according to a press release from the Twins.

Hawkins, 44, was drafted as a right-hander by the Twins in 1991 and played 21 seasons in MLB with 11 different teams, recording at least one save against all 30 teams– one of 13 relievers to ever do so. He pitched nine seasons in Minnesota from 1995-2003, appearing in 366 games. Hawkins also ranks 10th on baseball’s all-time list in games, appearing in 10,42 over his entire career.

Hawkins will be in charge of contributing to the Twins’ “development of our organizational pitching philosophies used in the selection and development of all players,” per patch.com. He will also be helping with the amateur scouting process and and trade deadline preparation meetings.

Hunter, 41, was drafted by the Twins in 1993 and played 19 seasons in the major leagues, including 12 for Minnesota from 1997-2007 and again in 2015. He was named to five All-Star teams, earned nine Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and two Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards. Torii was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2016 and ranks among the Twins top 10 in multiple categories, including games (1,373), hits (1,343), doubles (281), home runs (214) and RBI (792).

His duties as assistant will include emphasizing heavy focus on organizational culture and major league environment, and spending time with the major league team and baseball operations decision-making staff. Like Hawkins, he will be involved with the amateur draft process, scouting, minor leagues and trade deadline preparation.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Cuddyer #5 of the Minnesota Twins hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning on September 26, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)