Dozier confident he can turn around season

ANAHEIM -- The start to Hunter Dozier’s 2021 season has been a grind.

Dozier was slashing .162/.230/.378 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs through 148 at-bats entering Tuesday. The right-handed hitter has also struggled to hit to the opposite field, with 22 of his 24 knocks going to the pull side.

"Going right-center, that's kind of my game,” Dozier said after Monday’s 8-3 loss. “I know I haven't done it this year. I've been thinking that way when I step in the box. It just hasn't played out that way.”

After his first three-hit performance of the season on Monday, which included an opposite-field single to right-center, Dozier is looking at it as a positive build to a turnaround.

“Tonight, it felt good,” Dozier said postgame on Monday. “I just have to keep telling myself the stuff I'm working on in a cage, it's going to transfer over. I just keep taking it day by day and don't get frustrated by the results. Just stay focused on the stuff I'm working on, because I know in the long run, it's gonna help me out.”

When it comes to putting the ball in play this season, it's been a mixed bag for Dozier. He ranks in the 77th percentile in hard-hit rate and in the 82nd percentile in barrel percentage, but he ranks below the bottom 20 percentiles in whiff and strikeout percentage, according to Statcast.

In his last full season in 2019, Dozier slashed .279/.348/.522 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs in 139 games. During 2020's abbreviated season, however, his performance dipped as he batted .228 in 44 games.

Amid his slump, Dozier said the return to a full 162-game campaign has given him a positive outlook as opposed to last year.

“Knowing that this year is a normal year, which seems like a very long year compared to last year, it definitely gives you a little peace,” he said. “Knowing that this is a long season, I have this many at-bats left, don't let the first 150 dictate the rest of the season. Whereas last year, it was a sprint. If I did this last year, my season would be over. I would be hitting one-whatever I'm hitting, but thankfully we have a full season. I have time to continue to work and try to keep getting out of this.”