Former Willmar Stinger Hunter Dozier Debuts with the Royals
Dozier is the 163rd former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Willmar Stinger, Hunter Dozier, made his Major League debut for the Kansas City Royals on Monday, September 12, 2016. Dozier is the 163rd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Dozier, who played collegiately at Stephen F. Austin State University, played for the Willmar Stingers in 2012. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1st round, 8th overall, of the 2013 MLB Draft.
In 2012 with the Stingers, Dozier hit .257 with six home runs, 11 doubles and 40 runs driven in. He also stole 10 bases.
Dozier started his Minor League career in 2013 with the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League. After 54 games he was promoted to the Lexington Legends of the Lo-A South Atlantic League. For the season he hit .308 with seven home runs, 30 doubles and 52 RBI.
Dozier started the 2014 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Hi-A Carolina League. He was then promoted, after 66 games, to AA with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Between the two clubs he hit a combined .251 with eight home runs, 30 doubles and 10 stolen bases.
The 2015 season saw Dozier spend the entire season with Northwest Arkansas. Over 128 games he hit .213 with 27 doubles, one triple and 12 home runs.
Prior to being called up by the Royals, Dozier began the 2016 season with Northwest Arkansas and then was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the AAA Pacific Coast League. Over 129 games he hit .296 with 23 home runs, 44 doubles and one triple. He also drove in 75 runs and stole seven bases.
In his Major League debut against the Athletics, Dozier entered the game in the top of the 7th inning as a defensive substitution for Cheslor Cuthbert, batting 6th and playing right field. In the bottom of the 9th inning Dozier struck out swinging to start the inning.
###
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
