Major League Baseball

Hunter says he didn't actually kiss alligator

Published Mar. 5, 2014 2:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) Torii Hunter claims he didn't actually kiss an alligator.

The Detroit outfielder was featured in a viral photo from spring training that showed him puckering up next to the bounded mouth of a gator - but he told reporters Wednesday he was just ''on the backside of it'' and there was no kiss.

Hunter says he'd never touched a gator before. The photo is available via a link from Hunter's Twitter account.

The picture was part of a morning meeting the Tigers have been holding daily at spring training under new manager Brad Ausmus. It may sound like a more formal start to each day, but it's also a chance for the team to share a few laughs.