Former Twins second baseman Brian Dozier retires

A renowned former Twin is stepping away from the diamond:

Brian Dozier, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his career as a Twin, has announced his retirement.

Dozier began his career as an eighth-round, light-hitting shortstop, but instead became the Twins’ All-Star power-hitting second baseman by the time of his 2018 trade away from the organization. His peak came during the three-year stretch of 2015-17:

• 2015 saw Dozier make the American League All-Star team (one year after a Home Run Derby appearance) and hit a home run in his only All-Star Game at-bat. Before his addition to the team, Dozier capped off one of the most memorable Twins games of the decade, completing Minnesota’s seven-run ninth-inning rally against the Tigers with a three-run walkoff shot.
• The next season, he hit 42 home runs, at the time the only Twin not named Harmon Killebrew to reach 40 in a season. On September 5, Dozier tallied the sixth three-homer game in team history, swatting a trio against the Royals.
• Finally, in 2017, Dozier swatted another 34 home runs and homered in his first playoff plate appearance, opening the Wild Card Game with a solo blast on Luis Severino’s fifth pitch. He also earned the American League’s Gold Glove Award at second base.

But in 2018, with the Twins in a mire and Dozier’s value at its best - a July 15 walkoff grand slam keeping his name in profile - the Twins traded their second baseman to the Dodgers. (Of the three players Minnesota received in return, only pitcher Devin Smeltzer is still with the organization.) Dozier proceeded to reach the World Series with Los Angeles, but the Dodgers dropped to the Red Sox in five games. Not content with that result, Dozier joined the Nationals in 2019 and earned a World Series ring, walking in his sole plate appearance of the Series.

A further list of Dozier’s career achievements can be found here:

Best of luck in your next endeavors, Brian. You’ll always be welcome in Minnesota.