Hunter Dozier


Hunter William Dozier is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. The Royals selected Dozier eighth overall in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft after he played college baseball at Stephen F. Austin State University. He made his MLB debut in 2016.

Amateur career

Dozier attended Denton High School in Denton, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball and American football teams; Dozier played shortstop for the baseball team and quarterback in football. His football career was hampered by a broken collarbone in his junior year. He focused on baseball in his senior year of high school having intention to play college baseball.
Dozier went on to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he played college baseball for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks baseball team. In 2013, he was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the best shortstop in college baseball.

Professional career

The Royals selected Dozier with the eighth overall selection in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Dozier signed with the Royals for a $2.2 million signing bonus, below the slot value of $3,117,800 allotted for the pick. He reported to the Royals' Arizona League complex before joining the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He was promoted to the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League in August. In 69 games between Idaho Falls and Lexington, he batted.308 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs.
Dozier began the 2014 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. On June 18, the Royals promoted him to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League. In 130 games between the two clubs he hit.251 with eight home runs and 60 RBIs. Dozier spent the 2015 season with Northwest Arkansas, compiling a.213 batting average with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 128 games.. He returned there to begin the 2016 season before receiving a promotion to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in May. Dozier appeared in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. In 129 games between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, he slashed.296/.366/.533 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs.
The Royals promoted Dozier to the major leagues on September 2, 2016. He made his major league debut on September 12. He recorded his first major league hit on September 16. Dozier began the 2017 season with Omaha. He missed the beginning of the season with a strained oblique muscle, and after playing in ten games, broke the hamate bone in his wrist in June. He played a total of 33 games in the minor league regular season, and was not called up to the major leagues as a part of their September call-ups. After the regular season, he played for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League.
Dozier began 2018 with Omaha and was recalled by Kansas City on May 14. In 2019, Dozier was an offensive centerpiece for Kansas City, as he hit.279 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI in 139 games.
On July 22, 2020, it was announced that Dozier had tested positive for COVID-19.

Personal

Dozier and his wife Amanda have two kids.