MLB puts cork in Hunter’s toast

MINNEAPOLIS – Torii Hunter was so happy last fall when Kansas City’s season-ending win over Detroit gave Minnesota the division title he vowed to buy a bottle of champagne for each of the Royals.

“Every one of them! Dom Perignon!” Hunter said on Oct. 1 as he celebrated with teammates.

But Major League Baseball has a rule against such rewards, as Hunter recently found out.

Although he didn’t fully follow through on his gesture, Hunter had four bottles of champagne sent to Mike Sweeney’s stall in the Kansas City clubhouse when the Twins were there over the weekend.

The commissioner’s office informed the team Monday of the violation, and general manager Terry Ryan straightened the situation out with the Royals. The unopened bottles were to be sent back to Minnesota.