DETROIT -- It's the third straight Opening Day that Torii Hunter is playing at Comerica Park.
Only this year he's back in a Minnesota Twins uniform.
"Who made this schedule?" Hunter said with a laugh in the visitors clubhouse. "This is a place where I have fun. That clubhouse, those guys made me laugh everyday. And that organization was an A-1 organization. To start the season off on Opening Day to play against my former team, and I loved, it's kinda weird. I don't know what to expect. I don't know what the reception is going to be."
There's no doubt that the reception will be a positive one.
Hunter was extremely popular among his teammates and with manager Brad Ausmus and the coaching staff.
"It's definitely not the same without Torii," Rajai Davis said.
Yoenis Cespedes now has the coveted corner locker in the clubhouse where Hunter was the last two years.
"He did text me this morning, saying good luck," Ausmus said. "I said good luck to him. Hope you have a great game and lose."
Hunter never did lose much when he was a Twin playing the Tigers and he did not lose much with the Tigers, although he never won the World Series he hoped to with them.
Hunter was asked if he learned about any weaknesses Cabrera might have that he could pass along to the Twins pitchers.
"There's no weakness of Cabrera," Hunter said, laughing at the thought. "I've been asked several times and I say good luck. Miguel is a special player. Two years here, I did not see a weakness."
Hunter had examples, plenty of examples.
"When you see a guy hit a ball in the other batter's box and hit it out of the park," Hunter said, "I'm like, no this is not real. Then a ball at his neck and he hits it out of the park. Mariano Rivera throws one at his ankle and he hits it to center field in Yankee Stadium. There's no weakness for Miguel Cabrera.
"To us Twins, just don't pitch to him!"
Although Hunter seriously considered retiring when the Tigers told him they would not be re-signing him, he decided he had more left.
"I went home and felt good, and I said, 'All right, I've gotta keep playing,'" Hunter said. "As long as there's bullets left, I gotta keep going. After this season, I just reevaluate everything and see what happens. But while I'm here, for a year, I'm going to give it my all and play hard like it's my last."
Hunter said he wished that Justin Verlander were on the mound for Opening Day.
"It would've been funny to face Verlander," Hunter said. "I would've made him laugh on the mound. It's going to be pretty cool coming back to play against these guys. They know, as soon as I step on the field, I'm just going to be competitive. But at the same time, have some fun."
Verlander remained in Lakeland with his right triceps strain and is hoping to be ready for Sunday in Cleveland if all goes well facing live hitters Tuesday.
As for Hunter, he's rejoined former teammate and now manager Paul Molitor to help lead a young team.
"It's a young squad, but very talented," Hunter said. "These guys are right where they need to be. They have a good chance to win the division. I'm pretty sure the Tigers do, too. But we have a good chance to win the division. If it has to be a wild card, we can do that, as well. We have a very competitive team and if we stay consistent, I think we can win."
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