statistically speaking

Maybe spring training stats don’t mean anything. But 10-for-18 with a pair of home runs is hard to dismiss. Southern Miss product Brian Dozier has been mashing in the Grapefruit League, building on the strong season he had for Minnesota in 2014. Dozier belted 23 homers, drove in 71 runs, scored 112 and stole 21 bases. Though he hit just .242 last season, his on-base percentage was .345. “This (2015) is my fourth year (in the big leagues),” he told mlb.com, “and I’m starting to get more of an idea of what (pitchers) want to try to do to me.” If he continues to advance this year, he might just make his first All-Star Game. … Tyler Moore, the ex-Mississippi State star, is also swinging it well as he battles for a roster spot with Washington. Moore is 10-for-24 with a homer and seven RBIs. Those numbers have to mean something. … MSU alum Mitch Moreland is 4-for-15 with a homer in five games for Texas as he comes back from ankle surgery that cut short his 2014 season. … Ed Easley, another former Bulldogs star, is just 1-for-8 in his bid to win the backup catcher job in St. Louis. He got his first hit and RBI on Sunday. … Well-traveled former Ole Miss star Seth Smith is 5-for-18 with his newest club, Seattle. … Kendall Graveman, the MSU product vying for a spot in Oakland’s rotation in just his second pro season, has posted a 0.93 ERA in three games (9 2/3 innings). “This is a blast,” he told mlb.com. … Texas brought former Columbia High star Ti’Quan Forbes into its big league camp on Sunday but hasn’t put him in a game yet. The lanky shortstop, the Rangers’ second-round pick last June, hit .241 in rookie ball last season.