Hunter Dozier

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #8 prospect in 2018
  After Dozier's prospect status began to dim with a subpar 2015 season at Double-A, he shortened his swing and improved his bat path to produce a strong 2016. After making his major league debut at the end of 2016, Dozier ranked as the Royals' No. 3 prospect. But 2017 turned out to be a lost season for Dozier. He was first sidelined early in the year with an oblique injury and then later missed two months with a broken hamate. Dozier rounded back into form after returning to Triple-A Omaha in 2017. He compiled a strong August in which he hit .260/.351/.560, while building off swing improvements he made the previous season. He's a fringe-average defender who played as much in the outfield in 2017 as his more natural third base. He also saw time at first base. He may project best as a bat off the bench capable of filling in at all four corner positions. Dozier headed to the Mexican Pacific League after the 2017 season to make up for lost time, but he hit just .211/.298/.368 in a month of winter ball action before coming home. With the Royals' 2018 lineup in a state of flux because of the free agency of several key regulars, Dozier has a good shot at earning at least a reserve role out of spring training.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2017
  After a fast start to his career, Dozier struggled after a promotion to Double-A to finish the 2014 season. He regressed more in 2015 He bounced back in dramatic fashion in 2016, finishing second in the Pacific Coast League in doubles (36) while posting 68 extra base hits between Double-A and Triple-A. Dozier's problems all started with poor timing and an inability to get into a rhythm. At instructional league in 2015 Dozier focused on shortening his swing and improving his bat path. He reworked his load, eliminating a drift in his hands that cocked his bat for his swing and replacing it with a shorter, more fluid load. Dozier cut his strikeout rate, hit for the best power of his career and did a better job of using the whole field. If he can stick with his newfound approach, he again projects to be an above-average hitter with average power. Defensively, Dozier is fringe-average at third base with an average arm. He's currently a below-average defender in the outfield due to inexperience, but as an average runner, he has room for improvement. Dozier's rebound gives hope that he can be an everyday regular. Cheslor Cuthbert's superior defense means Dozier likely ends up in the outfield.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #30 prospect in 2016
  No one has been more puzzling over the past two years than Dozier. When the Royals drafted Dozier, they believed he was a hit over power third baseman who would move quickly with plenty of doubles and professional at-bats. And for the first season and a half of his pro career, that's what he was. When he hit Double-A everything fell apart. Dozier tweaked his swing to try to become more pull-happy and hit for more power, but it made his swing longer and caused him to collapse with his backside. He no longer has the timing or the rhythm he once had at the plate. Too often he's late on fastballs, which led him to start cheating with his hands and his hips. This makes him an easy mark against offspeed offerings. His defense has suffered as well. He has become more mechanical with his hands. His arm has average strength but below-average accuracy. There is reason to believe the tools are still in there to be an everyday third baseman, but Dozier has taken two steps back in the past year and a half.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #5 prospect in 2015
  Dozier will be linked with lefthander Sean Manaea for as long as the two players remain Royals. The organization reached to take the former with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft, believing he wouldn't last until the Royals' second pick at No. 34, which they used to select Manaea and bestow him with an above-slot bonus. Dozier showed an extremely advanced approach at high Class A Wilmington. He employs a simple swing, making use of a slight toe tap as a timing mechanism before taking a balanced, short stroke best geared for line drives up the middle. Dozier always has demonstrated a good idea of the strike zone and an ability to draw walks. All of that fell apart after his promotion. He became pull-happy, overaggressive and began chasing poor pitches. Defensively, Dozier has adapted quickly to third base after moving off shortstop. He's becoming more confident at positioning himself and deciding when to play up or back on hitters. His arm strength and accuracy improved after he fixed a tendency early in the season to throw with a lowered front arm. Dozier's second-half performance at Double-A was an uncharacteristic hiccup, and he'll return to Northwest Arkansas in 2015.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #7 prospect in 2014
  Thanks in part to a broken collarbone that ruined his junior season, Dozier was lightly recruited coming out of high school. He left Stephen F. Austin after three years as the school's first first-round pick, all-time leader in hits and doubles as well as the highest drafted player in Southland Conference history. The Royals liked Dozier enough to take him eighth overall, believing he wouldn't last until their second pick at No. 34. They signed him for $1 million under slot, freeing money to pursue sandwich pick Sean Manaea. Dozier has an advanced feel for hitting, sorting out pitches early in the count to get into favorable situations, but he's equally comfortable hitting with two strikes. He walked (38) more than he struck out (37) while hitting 30 doubles in just 69 games at Rookie-level Idaho Falls and low Class A Lexington in his debut. Dozier has an above-average hit tool and the potential to have at least solid-average power as well, if some of those doubles begin clearing the fence as he matures. While Dozier was too big to stick at shortstop as a pro, he has plenty of lateral range and an above-average arm that fits well at third base. He's an average runner. Dozier is advanced enough to jump right to high Class A Wilmington in 2014. He could be in Double-A Northwest Arkansas by the end of the year and challenge Mike Moustakas for the third base job shortly thereafter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #39 prospect in 2013 draft
  Stephen F. Austin produced just one player selected above the 13th round in the first 48 drafts, and now Dozier should easily surpass Bryson Myles (sixth round, 2011) as the highest pick in school history. Scouts describe him as a Jeff Kent-style player in a Drew Stubbs body. Dozier has adjusted his approach this spring, abandoning a crouch and standing more upright, allowing him to use his hands better in his swing. He's also doing a better job of managing the strike zone and with a month to go before the draft, he was hitting .404 and ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in doubles (22), homers (14) and slugging (.770). Dozier carries a lot of strength in his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, and the righty slugger has exceptional power to the opposite field. He could hit 20-25 homers annually in the big leagues. Dozier also moves well for his size and may be able to stay at shortstop for a while, though he'll lack the quickness to play there in the big leagues. He has close to average speed and moves well enough to be an asset at third base and possibly at second. His arm isn't in question, as he showed a 91-93 mph fastball in relief appearances a year ago.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #15 prospect in 2016
  When Dozier received a September callup to the Royals, it capped a redemptive season for the 2013 first-round pick. He hit just .213 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2015 as he struggled for the first time as a pro. He faced no such trouble this season as he mastered Double-A and Triple-A by batting a cumulative .296/.366/.533 with 23 home runs and 44 doubles. A good athlete, Dozier played quarterback at his high school in Denton, Texas, but he got away from his line-drive hitting approach as he tried to sell out for power during his 2015 struggles. His swing became too mechanical as a result, but those days appear to be gone. A big-framed shortstop in college, Dozier profiles as a regular third baseman who hits for average over power. His feel for the barrel suggests an ability to hit for average, and he has bat speed to fill the gaps with line drives. He has improved defensively at third and owns plus arm strength and average range.
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  Ranked Carolina League #6 prospect in 2014
  A year after signing for $2.2 million as the eighth pick in the draft, Dozier cruised through the CL before hitting a wall at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and hitting just .209/.303/.312 in 234 at-bats In his half-season in the CL, Dozier showed skill and power. He unleashes a quick, smooth, righthanded swing that will produce a solid average and at least average power. He manages at-bats with strong plate discipline, and he ranked among the league leaders in walks and OBP at the time of his promotion to Double-A. "He can do a little of everything," Carolina manager Scooter Tucker said. "He runs decent, shows some power and has real good arm strength." A shortstop in college, Dozier's solid range, reliable hands and strong arm will play at third base.
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  Ranked Texas League #6 prospect in 2014
  The Royals pushed Dozier to Northwest Arkansas after a sparkling first half at high Class A Wilmington. While he struggled at times to adjust to better competition, he also flashed the tools that led the Royals to select him eighth overall in 2013. Dozier has plenty of raw power and proved he can hit the best fastballs, but he is susceptible to breaking pitches, which he struggled to identify and lay off. He's a hard worker with baseball acumen and should hit for better average as he learns to look for his pitch and identify it. "He's got the most aptitude of any player I've had," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said. A shortstop in college, Dozier shined on defense in the TL. He committed five errors in his first five games when he rushed his throws to first, but he settled down and committed just seven over his final 59 games. He moves well at third base and has an above-average arm. He's athletic and runs well for his size. "His numbers may not have shown the growth that was taking place," Springfield manager Mike Shildt said. "He plays hard and I like how he went about it."
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  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 2013
  The Royals raised a few eyebrows when they drafted Dozier eighth overall, but his selection was part of a master plan that freed up bonus pool money to later sign lefthander Sean Manaea to an over-slot deal Originally projected to be more of a sandwich-round talent, Dozier signed for $2.2 million?about $1 million less than the slot value for that pick?and showed off first-round skills in the Pioneer League. Dozier projects as a solid middle-of-the-order hitter, and scouts believe that many of his doubles will turn into home runs as he gains experience and learns to incorporate his lower half more consistently. With at least average bat speed, he has the ability to turn on good fastballs and is also skilled at recognizing offspeed pitches. He?s an average runner, but stealing bases won?t be part of his game. A shortstop in college, Dozier spent most of the season at the hot corner where he projects to stay, and his above-average arm is more than enough for the left side of the infield. Idaho Falls manager Omar Ramirez praised Dozier?s work ethic and expects him to advance quickly.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: After a fast start to his career, Dozier struggled after a promotion to Double-A to finish the 2014 season. He regressed more in 2015. He bounced back in dramatic fashion in 2016, finishing second in the Pacific Coast League in doubles (36) while posting 68 extra base hits between Double-A and Triple-A. Scouting Report: Dozier's problems all started with poor timing and an inability to get into a rhythm. At instructional league in 2015 Dozier focused on shortening his swing and improving his bat path. He reworked his load, eliminating a drift in his hands that cocked his bat for his swing and replacing it with a shorter, more fluid load. Dozier cut his strikeout rate, hit for the best power of his career and did a better job of using the whole field. If he can stick with his newfound approach, he again projects to be an above-average hitter with average power. Defensively, Dozier is fringe-average at third base with an average arm. He's currently a below-average defender in the outfield due to inexperience, but as an average runner, he has room for improvement.
  
  The Future: Dozier's rebound gives hope that he can be an everyday regular. Cheslor Cuthbert's superior defense means Dozier likely ends up in the outfield.