Kansas City Royals release third baseman Hunter Dozier

Kansas City Royals’ Hunter Dozier holds his bat in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Minneapolis. The Twins won 8-4. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

by: PJ Green

Posted: May 27, 2023 / 04:13 PM CDT

Updated: May 27, 2023 / 04:13 PM CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have cut a player that fans have discussed all season.

After being designated for assignment on Monday, the Royals released third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier on Saturday.

Dozier batted .183 with two homers and nine RBIs in 29 games this year. The 31-year-old is in the third season of a four-year, $25 million extension. He is still owed $7.25 million in 2023 and the $9 million he’s owed in 2024.

“It was an extremely tough decision based on who he is as a person, as a teammate, as a worker,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said earlier this week. “We think the world of him as a person.”

Dozier has spent his seven-year big league career wit the Royals and batted .238/.305/.420 in his career with 73 homers and 235 RBIs in 594 games.

His best season was in 2019 with 26 homers, an MLB-leading 10 triples and 84 RBIs.