The Minnesota Twins have optioned rookie shortstop Brian Dozier to Triple-A and purchased the contract of Pedro Florimon to replace him, reports Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:

Dozier optioned to AAA Rochester. Florimon has contract purchased. #MNTwins

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) August 15, 2012

Dozier, 25, was hitting just .234/.271/.332 with six home runs in eighty-four games since taking over at shortstop in early May. The Twins' 2011 Minor League Player of the Year also struggled with the glove, committing an AL-worst fifteen errors at shortstop in his brief stint with the club.

Assistant general manager Rob Antony believes that some time in Triple-A will help Dozier regain the confidence needed to come back and excel at the big league level:

"He's had his good days, he's had his tough days, and basically he just needs to go down and play every day. He's got to work on his defense.

"He needs to be a little bit more consistent, and I think he's taking too many defensive swings. It's just an opportunity for him to go down, relax, get his confidence back, play every day and work his way back up here."

The 25-year-old Florimon, who was selected off waivers from the Orioles last winter, is hitting .251/.308/.345 in eighty-two games at Triple-A. Known more as a defensive specialist, Florimon will likely split time at short with veteran Jamey Carrol.