Brian Dozier
A power-hitting second baseman who transformed himself into an All-Star and Gold Glove winner, redefining the position for the Minnesota Twins.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 15·Millennials
Biography
Brian Dozier didn't just play second base for the Minnesota Twins; he reinvented what the team could expect from it. Drafted as a shortstop, he moved to the other side of the bag and unlocked a surprising power surge. Dozier became the engine of the Twins' lineup during his peak, a compact right-handed hitter with a distinctive leg kick who launched home runs at a rate unheard of for his position at the time. His 2016 season was a masterpiece: he blasted 42 homers, setting an American League record for a second baseman. But he was far from one-dimensional. He worked tirelessly to become a reliable defender, a effort crowned with a Gold Glove in 2017. After a trade to the Dodgers, he became a valued veteran on contending teams, finally reaching the World Series with Washington. Dozier's career is a story of self-made transformation, proving that power and polish could coexist in the middle of the infield.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brian was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the American League record for home runs by a second baseman with 42 in the 2016 season.
- Won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2017 for his defensive work at second base.
- Was selected as an American League All-Star in 2015 during his peak with the Minnesota Twins.
- Hit 30 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (2016-2018), a rare feat for a middle infielder.
- Won a World Series championship with the Washington Nationals in 2019.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Twins in the 8th round out of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dozier hit a leadoff home run in the first inning of the 2019 World Series for the Washington Nationals.
He and his wife, Renee, are heavily involved in charitable work, particularly for children's hospitals.
He played collegiate summer baseball in the Alaska Baseball League before being drafted.
“You play this game for one reason, and that's to win the last game of the season.”
