BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Dozier Decides to Go Back to Football

D.J. Dozier, the former running back from Penn State, could have been the latest of the two-sport athletes to hit the top level in baseball and football, but the lure of football was too great.

Dozier will report to Minnesota Vikings this week when the Mets’ triple-A Tidewater affiliate plays its final game. The Mets had hoped Dozier would commit to playing the rest of the baseball season. If he had, the Mets might have purchased his contract and promoted him to the majors.

“But his agent said D.J. didn’t feel he could give us a commitment for baseball. He could make so much more going to football,” said Gerry Hunsicker, Mets’ director of baseball operations.

Through Monday, Dozier, a right-handed outfielder, was batting .269 with one home run and 22 RBIs in 171 at-bats with Tidewater.