spring flings

Brian Dozier signed a 4-year, $20 million contract extension today, then celebrated with a home run in his first at-bat of Minnesota’s Grapefruit League game. The former Southern Miss star belted his third homer off the spring (off former Mississippi Braves ace Todd Redmond of Toronto) and is now batting .448. … Former Hillcrest Christian and Ole Miss standout Seth Smith hit his first home run and stole his first base of the spring today for Seattle. … Milwaukee sent David Goforth to its Triple-A team on Monday, but you have to expect he’ll be in a Brewers uniform before too long. The Ole Miss product from Meridian pitched well in big league spring games, posting a 1.42 ERA, three saves and seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. In his first full season as a closer in 2014, right-hander Goforth registered 27 saves and a 3.76 ERA for Double-A Huntsville in the Southern League. Goforth, drafted in the seventh round in 2011, made the Brewers’ 40-man roster in the off-season. Milwaukee recently re-signed Francisco Rodriguez to be its closer this season, but if the 33-year old “K-Rod” falters, Goforth just might get his shot. … For what it’s worth, Billy Hamilton hasn’t hit this spring, nor has the former Taylorsville High star done much running. Hamilton is batting .160 in nine games for Cincinnati. He has stolen two bases and scored three runs. After his slump last year, are the Reds worried?