A word of thanks

Dear Mr. Hunter,

Words can not express the hearts full of gratitude across Minnesota. You came up to a team that only the most devoted baseball fans still clung to and made it shine again. Three cheers to our face when we so desperately needed one and to the leader to our current stars.

Thank you for nine years of power, speed, agility. Thank you for nine years of thrills, chills, diving catches in center field, and making us believe that Spiderman is real. Thank you for stepping into the big shoes of Kirby and keeping his legacy alive. Thank for the losing seasons, the winning seasons, and the playoffs, because in every season, Minnesota knew that you left nothing on the field.

Thank you for not giving up a team headed for contraction. Thank you for your generosity, for becoming a light and a reason for hope for so many in this community. In an age where the player sometimes forgets who comes to the games, thank you for showing your love and your time to the fans.

Most importantly, thank you for nine years of smiles and a genuine love for the game of baseball.

It is my sincerest wish that you will continue to be superhero in center field next year, but if another team is lucky enough to include you on their roster, you will always have a least one Homer Hanky that waves for you!

Minnesota loves you, #48 and hopes to see you in our uniform for many years to come.