Brian Dozier’s latest display of power earned him a spot in the record books.
Dozier blasted his 42nd home run of the season Thursday against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. It was Dozier’s 40th homer of 2016 while playing second base, which is a new American League single-season record.
Alfonso Soriano held the AL record with 39 home runs as a second baseman while playing for the New York Yankees in 2002. Davey Johnson, who slugged 42 homers while playing second base for the Atlanta Braves in 1973, holds the Major League Baseball record.
It’s been a huge year for Dozier, who hit a career-high 28 home runs last season. His 42nd homer in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader between the Twins and Tigers moved him into a tie with the Toronto Blue Jays’ Edwin Encarnacion for the second-most homers in the majors this season. The Baltimore Orioles’ Mark Trumbo entered the day leading the majors with 43 home runs.
Dozier also extended his hit streak to 24 games with the record-setting homer. That marks the longest hit streak by a Twins player since Lenny Green hit safely in 24 consecutive games in 1961.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports Images
