Minnesota Twins Player Torii Hunter Calls Reporter a ‘Prick’ for Asking About Gay Marriage

Torii Hunter made the news this week not only for signing a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, but also for calling a reporter a "prick" numerous times during a news conference.

At the conference, Mike Berardino, a beat reporter with the St. Pail Pioneer-Press, asked Hunter about whether or not he would talk about his political views in regards to gay marriage. In 2012, Hunter had stated, according to the Los Angeles Times that since he grew up as a Christian, he would be uncomfortable with gay marriage. Hunter has stated that his statement was taken out of context.

However, in a radio ad that aired in support of Republican candidate Asa Hutchinson who ran for governor in Arkansas, Hunter reiterated his stance on gay marriage and stated that marriages should be kept between a man and a woman.

In response to Berardino's question, Hunter stated, "No I mean, nah. There's nothing to talk about. You already know, so why keep talking about it. I said it? It is what it is. No, I'm not going to talk about it if you bring it up. It's not even baseball related. We can do that later, when I retire, then I'll tell you everything."

Hunter then followed this statement by berating Berardino. He said, "Hey Mike is kind of a prick huh? No, seriously, you're a prick man. I don't even know you. You're a prick. Seriously. Ain't nothing wrong with that man, that's your job. He's definitely a prick though."

In response to Hunter's name-calling, Berardino sent out a statement clarifying that he did not mean to make Hunter uncomfortable. Instead, Berardino wanted to give Hunter the opportunity to address his critics in regards to his political views on gay marriage. Berardino added that his question was related to baseball since he asked Hunter whether or not he believed that his political stance affected his job prospects.

"Regardless, I consider the unfortunate matter closed and I look forward to covering Mr. Hunter throughout the 2015 baseball season," he wrote.

The video clip can be seen here on Deadspin.