Associated Press

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- At least Paul Johnson's favorite
Twins player isn't Doug Mientkiewicz.

Johnson and his wife, Paula, named their twins after
Torii Hunter, the Twins center fielder and Paul
Johnson's favorite player.

Born five weeks early, Torii and Hunter Johnson are
staying in St. Cloud Hospital's neonatal intensive
care unit. On Monday, the real Torii Hunter stopped
by.

Hunter repeatedly told the Johnsons, of Brooten, he
was honored they named their babies after him. He said
it's the first time anybody has named children after
him.

``I've had some people who named their dogs Torii,''
Hunter said. ``I don't know if that's good or bad.''

Hunter also asked Johnson if he was sure he made the
right decision. ``What if I get traded or something?''
he joked.

The hospital stop wasn't part of the Twins annual
winter caravan, which began Monday in Hastings and
ends Thursday in Austin. But members of the Twins
staff set up the meeting after learning of the babies'
names.

Hunter left an autograph for the Johnsons that read:
``Best wishes and nice name!''


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