Royals Select Shortstop Hunter Dozier In First Round Of Draft

The Kansas City Royals have selected Hunter Dozier, a shortstop from Stephen F. Austin University, with the eighth overall pick of the June Free Agent Draft.

The 21-year old Dozier, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound shortstop from Stephen F. Austin University, batted .396 with 17 home runs and RBI (52) this season. He led the Southland Conference in batting average, slugging percentage (.755), doubles (25) and home runs, earning Louisville Slugger First Team All-America honors. He was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection, becoming the first shortstop in school history to earn that distinction, and was an All-South Central Region selection last year, when he hit .357 with 22 doubles, 10 homers and 37 RBI. He majored in kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin.

A native of Denton, Texas, Dozier was a multi-sport star at Denton High School. He was the shortstop and ace right-handed pitcher on the baseball team and also quarterbacked the football squad. He was a 2008 all-area selection and the district Newcomer of the Year. After suffering a football injury as a junior, he came back to hit .400 during his senior season and earned all-district honors.