First Round Pick Hunter Dozier to Report to Idaho Falls

IDAHO FALLS, ID. -- The Royals have announced top draft choice Hunter Dozier will report to Idaho Falls. It's the first time since 2004 that a Royals first round college pick has been assigned to Idaho Falls, when Matt Campbell became a Chukar.

The Kansas City Royals selected Hunter Dozier 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.

Seven players have been announced as projected for Idaho Falls. The shortstop is expected to be joined by pitchers Patrick Conroy, John Walter, Ashton Goudeau, and Jakob Junis. First baseman Bobby Brown and catcher Chad Johnson are the other projected names.

This season, the Chukars will be celebrating 75 years of professional Baseball in Idaho Falls. The season starts Thursday, June 20th at Melaleuca Field versus the Orem Owlz.