Kansas City Royals need to find a role for Hunter Dozier in 2018
The Kansas City Royals are probably rebuilding in 2018 and a big question they need to answer is what they’re planning to do with Hunter Dozier.
The Kansas City Royals selected Hunter Dozier with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. Dozier had played shortstop during his time at Stephen F. Austin, but the Royals had planned to use him more at third base.
Dozier has yet to really make any type of impact with the Royals and that’s something that has to change. He briefly came up the big leagues in 2016 and had just 19 at bats, during which he slashed .211/.286/.263 with four hits, one double, one run, and one RBI.
The Royals have struggled with their first round picks pretty much since selecting Eric Hosmer third overall in 2008. The fact that Dozier has yet to really do anything for the organization just proves that this organization hasn’t been making their first round picks count.
Why not play Hunter Dozier in the field and see what you have with him?
The 2018 season is the perfect time to get Hunter Dozier involved and find a role for him. Dozier looked to be the third baseman of the future in case Mike Moustakas wasn’t in town long-term, but Cheslor Cuthbert proved himself nicely in 2016 while filling in for an injured Moose.
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With Cuthbert likely being the go-to guy at third, that leaves two positions open for Dozier where he has experience playing in the minors. Those two spots are at first base or in right field. Dozier spent just four games at first base in 2017 in Triple-A, but that could be the best place to slot him in at, especially if Eric Hosmer doesn’t return.
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With no Hosmer in Kansas City, the options at first base are scarce. Brandon Moss could play first, but he’s more suited as the designated hitter and not in the field. Dozier is a young player who could fill that first base position until Nick Pratto is ready to join the Royals in a few years.
As for right field, the Royals have plenty of outfielders and Dozier being put in right just doesn’t seem right over someone like Jorge Bonifacio. Bonifacio would be my pick to man right field because he had a nice rookie year playing in right and why mess with a good thing there?
If the Kansas City Royals are going to rebuild this season, then why not play Hunter Dozier in the field and see what you have with him? The organization needs to do this with their first rounders that have yet to make a splash just to see if there’s anything there.
When looking back at the 2013 first round picks, four of the seven taken before Dozier have made it to the major leagues. Two of the three who haven’t were all in high school when selected, while Dozier was chosen out of college. It’s time for him to wear that Royals jersey and let the organization see what they have with him.
Whether it’s at first base, third base, in right field, or as a utility guy, the Kansas City Royals have to give Hunter Dozier an opportunity to prove himself this year and see if he can be someone to count on moving forward. If he doesn’t pan out, then that’s okay, but the Royals have to see what Dozier can do for this team.