Torii Hunter Returns to Angels After Son's Arrest ANAHEIM, Calif. - Torii Hunter, a Los Angeles Angels outfielder, returned to the team on Monday after spending two weeks with his family following the arrest of his son in connection with a sexual assault case. Hunter had been on the restricted list since May 14. He was not activated for Monday's game against the Yankees. He has been working out on his own and may be activated on Tuesday. He was in uniform on Monday, and when he was sent out to catch the ceremonial first pitch, he received a loud ovation from fans. Hunter's son, Darius McClinton-Hunter, 17, was arrested May 14 along with another 17-year-old boy and three juveniles on charges of sexually assaulting a child. Hunter said the case had no merit. McClinton-Hunter is a talented high school defensive back who was being recruited by several major colleges. Hunter said that several of the schools had backed out since the incident, but that Utah and Texas Tech remained interested. In an interview with reporters in the Angels" dugout before Monday's game, Hunter said that when he first heard the news of the arrest, he was angry and wanted to physically punish his son. He said his son had convinced him of his innocence. Hunter also expressed regret that he could not be with his three sons throughout the calendar year, instead of just during baseball's off-season, to help in their guidance. "When I was on the flight home, I was thinking, Man, I wish I could have been there, not just four months," he said. I wish I could be there 12 months and be in their lives, and none of this would happen, and this and that. I didn't know what was going on, and I didn't know the stories or anything like that. It took me a couple of days to really get the story, and once I got it, he told me all the stories, but I was like, "You better tell me." I wanted to beat him up. Once he told me the truth and we got the truth to come out, I was pretty excited about it. I felt better, but for him, seeing himself on TV, people talking about it, they're lying and different things like that. It's tough to watch your son go through that. Hunter vouched for all his children, and in a manner that suggested he spanked them, he said he raised them with physical discipline. "Trust me, I don't spoil my kids," he said. "I whup "em. I'm telling you that I whup my kids, and I make them earn everything they've got, and they know that. So they're not spoiled. Don't look at them as rich kids or anything like that. He's a good kid. All my boys are good kids. Hunter came back to the team once he was assured that his family was fine and able to deal with the situation without him, he said. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels did not hesitate to allow Hunter to spend as much time as necessary with his family. "We all love this game, and we understand the duty we have to this game," he said, "but there are things you have to do for your family, and that obviously is a priority."