PEORIA, Ariz. — On a Sunday in July, Torii Hunter surveyed the scene at Nationals Park and reveled in the youthful exuberance surrounding him. One player in particular evoked flashbacks to Hunter’s own career. Between the unbridled defense in center field, the delight in a just-short fly ball, and the ceaseless energy inside the dugout, the U.S. manager for the All-Star Futures Game perceived a younger version of himself.



“I’m like, ‘Man, this guy has it,’” Hunter said last week. “He’s out there having a good time, laughing every once in a while, but at the same time he’s trying to steal your joy and your dream, which is a home run. Him stealing bases, having great at-bats, just missing a home run — he could’ve been sad, but he was like, ‘Aw, man, just missed that.’ That right there carries over, and when other players see that … it kind of calms everybody else down to go out and take...