Minnesota Twins: Brian Dozier swinging a hot bat
Don’t look now, but the Minnesota Twins are in first place in the American League Central!
Leading the charge for the Minnesota Twins is second baseman, Brian Dozier. A free agent at years end, Dozier has a lot to prove during the 2018 season, and he is off to a terrific start.
Dozier is hitting .281 with a .903 OPS through his first 64 plate appearances. He has also chipped in four home runs while recording a hit in all 13 games this season.
However, Dozier isn’t alone with his hot start for the Twins. Joe Mauer and Eduardo Escobar are both swinging a hot bat, which has helped cover for slow starts from Eddie Rosario and Logan Morrison.
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Can Dozier keep this up?
One thing is certain, Dozier will not get a hit in every game he plays this season. However, Dozier’s career numbers suggest he will maintain this production throughout the 2018 season.
Dozier will hit 35-40 home runs while batting .270 or higher, and that will help the Minnesota Twins achieve their goals. His defense has been a little bit shaky to start the season. However, he has been an above-average defender at the keystone during his career so he will be more consistent as this season progresses.
Now, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. The Minnesota Twins made very little effort to extend Dozier’s contract this off-season and that’s beginning to look like a mistake. Sure, the Twins have a ton of middle-infield prospects like Royce Lewis making their way through the Minors. However, Dozier is a proven commodity and a perennial All-Star performer. Dozier has been a big piece to the Twins puzzle for years and his production isn’t slowing down one bit.
Minnesota should have made more of an effort to lock Dozier up long-term over the Winter. The Twins have a difficult decision to make regarding Dozier’s future with the team. They can start fresh at the position with one of the many high-end prospects they currently have. However, if they want to sustain their recent success, signing Dozier will give them the best chance.
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