Baseball | 12/28/2025 8:07:00 AM
GREENSBORO — Former North Carolina A&T right-handed pitcher (RHP) Leon Hunter sent a fastball from the mound in the last outing of the Tacoma Rainiers' 2023 season, collecting his 43rd strikeout of the year. It was the last pitch he delivered for months.
Shortly after the throw, Hunter felt a burning sensation in his right arm, which he initially brushed off as a routine muscle pull. However, the next day brought a much more complex diagnosis of a torn Latissimus Dorsi (Lat) muscle, an injury that sidelined him much longer than expected.
In fact, it took Hunter approximately 18 months of rehabilitation to return to the game, and it was full of challenges beyond what was physically seen.
"It's more so a mental battle," said Hunter, who has played professional baseball since being drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2019. "There are days where I felt great, and it's like I can do this again, and then a week after, you feel like you're back to square one, and it's like 'okay, what's going on?'"
Regardless, Hunter poured his heart into rehabilitation, allowing his work ethic in the weight room and a mindset focused on tackling each day to carry him back into doing what he loves. He credits his approach to navigating this setback to playing multiple sports growing up. Basketball, football and baseball each presented different requirements and coaching styles that pushed Hunter to go harder.
He carried this drive into his return to the field for the 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners' Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. Hunter, a Garner, NC native, made 26 appearances and posted a 5.40 ERA.
It illustrates the challenges of regaining his rhythm, which helped Hunter put together a minor league career in which he has made 134 appearances, including two starts. He has a career record of 24-7 with a 3.52 ERA in 199.1 innings. His career numbers also include 244 strikeouts and 14 saves while walking only 84 batters. Hitters have only batted .220 against him over his career.
That's why his eyes are fixed on improving with each opportunity he gets. Hunter elected for free agency on November 6, 2025.
"Right now, I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things when it comes to commanding pitches and getting in the high leverage counts," said the 28-year-old right hander. "So basically, just getting ahead, staying ahead, and using my weapons to get guys out."
Hunter is grateful to the Mariners organization for their support throughout the process. Through the ups and downs, he is intentional about appreciating where he stands.
"The biggest lesson is don't take the position I am in right now for granted," he said. "I feel like there were a lot of guys that were on the same roster as me that didn't get the opportunity that definitely should have."
To the young Aggies coming behind him who are also chasing those opportunities, he had straightforward advice.
"Find what drives you and use that to get better," Hunter said. No wonder he made such a remarkable return.
