Alfonso Soriano holds an American League record for the most home runs by a second baseman. Soriano scored 39 runs for the New York Yankees in 2002. Here’s why this is so important in Mississippi today: Brian Dozier, a Fulton native who played college basketball at Southern Miss, hit Sunday his 35th home run for the Minnesota Twins. Dozier has 25 games left and needs four more to tie the AL record. Five to beat it. It’s possible he will do it. His bat is more hot than Mississippi asphalt in a July/August heatwave. Dozier has hit 18 home runs since July 31. This is six more than any Major Leagues player has ever hit. It’s amazing to note that Dozier was not a power hitter at USM. Over four seasons, Dozier hit 16 homers in his career. Dozier hit three runs and had three RBI Sunday to increase his batting average from.276 to.276, thanks to the 35 homers. 32 doubles. Five triples. And 87 RBI. Dozier has the chance to be the fourth Major League second baseman to hit 40 home runs, and the first since Ryne Sandersberg in 1990. These are incredible numbers. Since Harmon Killebrew’s incredible 41 homers in 1970, no Twins player has ever hit 40. Dozier said Saturday that home runs are plentiful. Are I going to continue hitting these many home runs?” I don’t know. However, I feel stronger every week. This is something that hasn’t happened in the past. “I’m saying I’m not as tired.” The Major League record of home runs by second basemen is 42. It was set by Rogers Hornsby, a Hall of Famer, and Davey Johnson, a former Jackson Mets manager. Dozier would be the Major League record holder if he continued at his current pace, which is a significant “if” given how hot he has been.