Kansas City Royals: Hunter Dozier appears to be plan at first base
The Kansas City Royals are technically still without a first baseman, but it appears that they plan to roll with Hunter Dozier at the position.
Obviously the hope for the Kansas City Royals is to re-sign Eric Hosmer, but as of now, there is no true first baseman on the roster. There was some speculation this offseason that perhaps Hunter Dozier could get a chance to play first and now that appears to be what could happen.
Jerry Crasnick tweeted that Dozier is the team’s plan to man first at the moment, but nothing is set in stone. Dozier was drafted with the hopes of someday replacing Mike Moustakas at third base, but Cheslor Cuthbert pretty much has that position locked up, especially after stepping in for Moose in 2016 and playing quite well.
There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, but the first base mystery is the biggest one. Obviously if Hosmer comes back, he’ll be the go-to guy over at first, but if he doesn’t, the Royals need a solid plan there.
A couple of #MLB execs think Logan Morrison, a Kansas City native, has his eye on the #Royals as a landing spot if Eric Hosmer doesn't return. Hunter Dozier currently tops the 1B depth chart in K.C. Lomo and Lucas Duda are among the bats still available in painfully slow market.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) February 9, 2018
Hunter Dozier has been a player that I’ve been very interested in this offseason because we’ve seen very little from him during his major league career and it’s time for him to show what he can do. He’s had just 19 at bats in the majors, all coming during the 2016 season. During that time, he slashed .211/.286/.263 with four hits, four runs, two walks, one double, and one RBI.
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Dozier struggled to stay healthy in 2017, but he appears to be in the team’s plans for the rebuilding year that will be the 2018 season. The 26-year old has only spent 13 games at first base, but the Royals don’t have many other options after trading Brandon Moss last month.
As Crasnick mentioned in his tweet, Logan Morrison is still an option should the Royals not retain Hosmer, as is Lucas Duda (who fans remember all too well from the 2015 World Series). Morrison is a terrific backup option should Hosmer sign elsewhere, but at the same time, if the Royals are going to rebuild, just rebuild everything.
Nick Pratto will hopefully pan out and be the team’s future franchise first baseman, but it’ll take him a few years to get to the major league level. I’m all for getting Dozier involved and if first base is the best place for him, then let’s see what he can do there.
Hunter Dozier wil turn 27 in the middle of the season and the Kansas City Royals have to figure out what they have with him. They took him eighth overall in the 2013 MLB Draft and he’s yet to do much of anything in the big leagues. There’s no better time than 2018 to see what Dozier can do.
What do you think, Royals fans? Do you think playing Hunter Dozier at first base (should Hosmer not re-sign) is a good idea?