http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ter-cardinals-all-star-torii-hunter/70965644/
A few weeks later, it happened, and Hunter immediate invited Carpenter, a senior at TCU, and his brother over to his house to hit in his hitting cage.
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When they ran into one another again that winter, Hunter casually asked Carpenter where he was working out. When Carpenter told him the local high school, Hunter told him to work out with him at a nearby high-performance training facility.
"I was like, 'Man, I appreciate it, but I can't afford it,' ''Carpenter said, aware the training cost $1,000 a week. "My dad is a high school baseball coach. We don't have money like that. He said, "No, man, I got it.'
"He paid for me to train there for two years. And he paid for everything. Can you believe it? He treated me like I was one of his teammates.''
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"I owe so much to Torii for what he helping me become a major-leaguer,'' Carpenter said. "Nothing impressed me more than the way he treated people. This guy is a superstar. He's got a ton of money. And he treats everyone the same way.
"I'm trying to be that guy, too.''
Said Rick Carpenter, who has won three Texas high school state championships: "Our family can never thank Torii enough. I couldn't have afforded to send him to train like that. He was such a great mentor. He's learned so much from him, not only as a player, but just how to act.''
A few weeks later, it happened, and Hunter immediate invited Carpenter, a senior at TCU, and his brother over to his house to hit in his hitting cage.
...................................
When they ran into one another again that winter, Hunter casually asked Carpenter where he was working out. When Carpenter told him the local high school, Hunter told him to work out with him at a nearby high-performance training facility.
"I was like, 'Man, I appreciate it, but I can't afford it,' ''Carpenter said, aware the training cost $1,000 a week. "My dad is a high school baseball coach. We don't have money like that. He said, "No, man, I got it.'
"He paid for me to train there for two years. And he paid for everything. Can you believe it? He treated me like I was one of his teammates.''
........................
"I owe so much to Torii for what he helping me become a major-leaguer,'' Carpenter said. "Nothing impressed me more than the way he treated people. This guy is a superstar. He's got a ton of money. And he treats everyone the same way.
"I'm trying to be that guy, too.''
Said Rick Carpenter, who has won three Texas high school state championships: "Our family can never thank Torii enough. I couldn't have afforded to send him to train like that. He was such a great mentor. He's learned so much from him, not only as a player, but just how to act.''
