The numbers don't show it yet.

Through nine games, Justin Morneau is hitting .206, far below his .281 career average and even lower than the .227 he hit last year. Through nine games, Morneau has just two doubles and one home run.

But Morneau looks different, and ex-teammate Torii Hunter noticed it.

"His at-bats were competitive and strong," said Hunter, whose Angels played Morneau's Twins last week. "It's very different [from last year]. I can see him being on the up and up."

Morneau has been the Twins' designated hitter through the first nine games of the season, but manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters that he expects Morneau to play first base during this week's trip to New York and Tampa Bay.