He has been a bright spot in the Twins dismal season, hitting home runs with the frequency of light rail trains that fans take to and from the nearby Target Field Station.
Since last Friday, Brian Dozier has been on a roll. To say he has been on a roll is definitely an understatement. He has been on a tear, hitting seven home runs, including three in a Labor Day matinee against the Royals. Dozier is the second Twin this season to hit three home runs in a game and the first since Max Kepler accomplished the feat on August 1 against the Indians.
Dozier was not done launching the ball into Target Field's dark green seats. Tuesday night, in the bottom of the first inning, he hit his 39th home run tying Alfonso Soriano's record for home runs by an American League second baseman that he set in 2002 with the Yankees. He's also three home runs away from tying the major league record for most single season home runs by a second baseman of 42 that's held by Rogers Hornsby of the Cardinals in 1922 and Davey Johnson of the Braves in 1973. Johnson was one of three Braves to hit 40 or more home runs that season. The other two were Darrell Evans with 41 and Hank Aaron with 40.
In Dozier's five seasons, his home run totals have increased each season. He hit six in his rookie season 2012 and in 2013, he tripled his output to 18. In 2014, he hit 23 home runs and last season 28. Not bad for a player who only hit 19 in four minor league seasons.
There's 24 games to go for the Twins in 2016 so the chances are pretty good that he could break the single season record for home runs iby a second baseman. Can he do it?
No comments:
Post a Comment