He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets.

[1] Hunter attended Cathedral High School, where he was a two-time All-City Player of the Year (2004 and 2005) .

[6] The Rangers were awarded a compensatory pick when Mark DeRosa left to go to the Chicago Cubs in free agency.

[3] Hunter made his 2010 season debut on June 5, pitching a complete game win against the Tampa Bay Rays.

[8] On July 30, 2011, the Rangers traded Hunter and first baseman Chris Davis to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Koji Uehara.

[10] In 2013, he was 6–5 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 68.1 innings in 68 games, and held right-handed batters to a batting line of .141/.190/.154 in 159 plate appearances.

[3] Hunter signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with the Cleveland Indians on February 12, 2016.

[15] He was placed on the injured list on July 17 after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his back following a fall at his home.

[7] On February 22, 2017, Hunter signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

[20] Hunter finished the season with a 3–5 record with one save and 25 holds (fifth in the AL) in 61 appearances with a 2.61 ERA (a career low), pitching predominantly in the eighth inning before closer Alex Colomé.

[23] In 2018 with the Phillies, he was 5–4 with four saves, 25 holds (tied for fifth in the NL), and a 3.80 ERA, as he struck out 51 batters in 64 innings over 65 games.

[25] On July 23, Hunter underwent season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm.

[28] On February 14, 2021, Hunter signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets with an invitation to spring training.

[31] On May 18, 2021, Hunter recorded his first Major League hit, a single off of Tucker Davidson of the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.

On July 23, 2021, Hunter was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside minor league catcher Matthew Dyer in exchange for Rich Hill.

[40] On October 11, 2023, Hunter announced his retirement from professional baseball on former teammate Adam Jones' podcast.