The month of April has concluded and rightfully so, all the national media attention has focused on the likes of Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, and Mike Trout. While these three studs have had historical starts to 2019, they only make up three of the top four hitters this year. Unknown Kansas City third baseman Hunter Dozier has kept pace with the best of best so far, and with the sample size being just big enough to start paying attention, let’s dig in.
Dozier was drafted by the Royals in 2013 as the 8th overall pick out of Stephen F. Austin. He was seen as more of a value pick at the time as he wasn’t demanding an abnormally large signing bonus. Dozier immediately reported to rookie ball and absolutely tore up the baseball. He continued to get bumped up to the next level until he hit AA, where he found himself struggling. In 2016, however, Dozier broke through and was a September call up, able to log 21 plate appearances and his first major league hit.
Dozier was seen as a highly regarded prospect at this time, but his stock took a massive hit as injuries bombarded him in 2017. First, it was a strained oblique, and once he recovered from that, he broke his hamate bone in his wrist. Dozier was not included as a September call up towards the end of the year and ended up playing in the Mexican Pacific League as he tried to shake off the rust.
For 2018, Dozier finally found himself on the big league squad and was able to carve a semi-starting role. It did not go as planned, as while he did show some promising flashes, he finished the year with a negative fWAR, despite logging nearly 400 plate appearances.
Coming into 2019, Dozier was well aware he needed to start hitting, or else he would’ve been dubbed as an AAAA 27-year-old who was a former first-round bust. Improvement needed to be made in several areas, specifically his plate discipline and batted ball profile. Surely enough, this is exactly where he has excelled the most this year.
In 2018, Dozier found himself swinging at far too many balls. This directly correlated with a very low walk rate and high strikeout rate. However, this season Dozier has flipped the script. Below, this vast improvement after his 100th game is nearly linear.
-
Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm
The downward trend as the graph heads into and through 2019 is notable, showing his improved selectivity. Last year, word got around that Dozier did not have much plate discipline. This led to pitchers constantly throwing junk ball pitches, as they had no reason to throw in the zone. Now, as Dozier has stopped swinging at these pitches, it has forced pitchers to come into the zone, giving Dozier balls he can drive. While the trend is still relatively subtle, the uptick as of late can be seen.
With Dozier receiving more balls he can actually hit, he has seen his numbers skyrocket. This is for two reasons. The first, simply put, he’s hitting the ball hard. Below is his Statcast profile overview, via Baseballsavant.
As shown, all of his expected statistics, which use a combination of exit velocity and launch angle, are through the roof. This brings up the second reason as to why these numbers have skyrocketed: launch angle. Looking at average launch angle can be deceiving, so to get a better idea of how his batted balls have changed, here are the rolling averages for his flyball and groundout rates.
Just like for countless other hitters, hitting the ball in the air rather than on the ground has done wonders for Dozier.
While the sample size is still relatively small, by implementing the adjustments to his plate discipline and batted ball profile, Dozier has seen his batting average go up 100 points, his strikeout rate cut in half, his walk rate more than double, his OPS go up by over 400 points, and his wRC+ up by over 100. Time will tell how much of April Dozier is able to sustain, but for now, a tip of the cap to some improvement.
-
Ep 170: The 1986 Giants With Gary Myersby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm
HOF voter and author Gary Myers joins Clark and Ira to discuss his new […]
-
Ep 169: Discussing Art Powell and the AFL With Historian Todd Tobiasby Full Press Coverage on September 3, 2023 at 3:04 pm
AFL historian Todd Tobias joins Clark and Ira to talk Art Powell and the […]
-
Ep 168: Hall of Fame Finalist Randy Gradishar Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 24, 2023 at 8:44 pm
Former Broncos linebacker and member of the Orange Crush Defense, Randy […]
-
Ep 167: Discussing Buddy Parker With Hall of Fame Voter Paul Kuharskyby Full Press Coverage on August 19, 2023 at 1:23 am
Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Paul Kuharsky joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
Some Initial thoughts on Ohio State vs Notre Dameby LandryFootball.com on September 21, 2023 at 10:00 am
Have the season’s first few weeks revealed how No. 6 Ohio State at No. 9 […]
-
A Film Room look at this Miami Dolphins teamby LandryFootball.com on September 20, 2023 at 11:00 pm
For the second straight year, the Miami Dolphins are 2-0 after the […]
-
Ep 306: Week 2 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 3:06 am
-
Ep 305: TE Target Totals from Week 1by Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:28 am
-
Ep 304: The NFL Season Is Hereby Full Press Coverage on September 7, 2023 at 3:13 am
-
Ep 303: Ambiguous Situations in Fantasy Footballby Full Press Coverage on August 29, 2023 at 2:47 pm
-
Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saintsby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
In this episode, Kyle Senra is joined by Courtney Burrows (luvtractor3) […]
-
Ep 182: Week 2 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 1:52 am
The Green Bay Packers lost a close 25-24 game at the hands of the Atlanta […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 9-20 - The Southeast Florida Prospect Showcase & the Hurricanes Training Campby Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm
The Hurricanes have won all 3 games at their prospect showcase this past […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Farby Charlie Saunier on September 20, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Far Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-19 - Connor Bedard is HIM!!!by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Breaking down Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks games at the Tom Kurvers […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-18 - 2021 draft, Shane Wright, training campby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 3:00 pm
A look back at the 2021 Draft, Shane Wright update, Camp primer Learn more […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: SCS WTF?by Charlie Saunier on September 18, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: SCS WTF? Learn more about your ad […]
-
The Best Of The Renegades Of Puck 2023 Part 3by Charlie Saunier on September 16, 2023 at 5:01 am
The Best Of The Renegades Of Puck 2023 Part 3 Learn more about your ad […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teamsby Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
9/15 - Eagles Survive Vikings; Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles win over the Vikings and preview Week 2. […]
-
9/14 - Aaron Rodgers And The AFC East, Vikings at Eagles Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John further discuss the Aaron Rodgers injury and the impact on […]
-
9/12 - Jets Stun Bills; Aaron Rodgers Injuredby Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the (likely) season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
-
Philadelphia 76ers Previewby Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Ep. 278: Clayton State University Head Men's Basketball Coach Vince Alexanderby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 5:00 am
-
Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saintsby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
-
Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Dudsby Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm
-
Titans at Browns - Colts at Ravens - Broncos at Dolphinsby Broken Controller Media on September 20, 2023 at 4:15 pm
-
Chargers at Vikings - Saints at Packers - Texans at Jaguarsby Broken Controller Media on September 20, 2023 at 3:02 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 9-20 - Could the DWCS produce another Champ?by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Bye Bye Babsy - Sep. 19, 2023by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 8:30 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "She Was Portly"by Boot 2 The Face on September 14, 2023 at 11:57 pm
In the latest episode we talk Jey Uso and his move to Monday Night Raw. We […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "NFL Picks"by Boot 2 The Face on September 7, 2023 at 1:59 am
Boys are back talking CM Punk firing, AEW All Out, WWE Payback and picking […]
-
Wrestling World is Changing: From CM Punk To Vince McMahon to LA Knightby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Justin Starr as they break the […]
-
Back To Back Events Just Too Much... Let's Enjoy All Inby Full Press Coverage on September 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Andy McNamara as they discuss […]
-
Ep 182: Michelle McCoolby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're looking at the career of Michelle McCool. A teacher by […]