Former Indian to participate in MLB All-Star Weekend
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS - The 20th annual Gillette Home Run Derby will be double special for Minnesota Twins second baseman Brain Dozier.
The Fulton native, who leads the Twins with 16 homers, will step onto Target Field in front of his hometown fans, but it's who's joining him that will make the night extra special as his brother, Clay, a former left-handed pitcher and outfielder for the Indians throw to him Monday night.
"It's going to be funny," Brian told mlb.com. "I told him about a week ago I was one of the finalists so he's been throwing every day against the screen to loosen up his arm again. He played college ball so he knows how to throw and those things, but I'm just hoping he'll calm his nerves."
Clay helped guide the Indians to a 41-16 record while winning the program's third-straight MACJC North Division title and the NJCAA Region 23 Championship and were two wins shy of appearing in the World Series as a sophomore (05).
"Clay was a heck of a player for us back in the day," said ICC head coach Rick Collier. "He could really swing the bat from the left side of plate so he might could jump there and knock a few out himself. I'm really proud of both those guys and I know it's a really special moment for their family."
Clay, who will be wearing No. 7, continued his baseball career at Delta State University.
Brian, who will be wearin No. 2, returned home to speak to a packed house at the ICC Baseball Leadoff Banquet in January.
About the 2014 Home Run Derby
A new format will be introduced with this year's Derby. Five players from each league will get seven outs instead of the traditional 10 in each round. In the first round, the player who hits the most home runs from each league will get an automatic bye to the semifinals. The next two players from each league with the most homers will face off in a head-to-head matchup in the second round, with the winners advancing to the semifinals.
The championship round will be a showdown between the American League and National League's best. If necessary, the first tiebreaker would allow the finalists three swings each.
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