Corey Dickerson’s Addition Opens Host of Possibilities for Marlins

One of the more exciting new additions to the 2020 version of the Miami Marlins is Corey Dickerson.

Corey Dickerson is a six-foot-one, 210 lb. left-handed batting and right-handed throwing left fielder from McComb, MS. On January 7th, Dickerson signed a two-year, $17.5 million deal to play baseball for the Miami Marlins.

Now 30-years-old and turning 31 in May, Dickerson was twice drafted by the Colorado Rockies, in the 29th round in 2009 and again in the eighth round a year later. Three seasons later, he made his major league debut for Colorado, and in the end played 265 contests through the 2015 campaign. He hit .299/.345/.534, with 39 homers and 124 RBI.

Prior to the following Spring Training, the Rockies traded Dickerson with Kevin Padlo to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jake McGee and German Marquez. Dickerson’s two seasons with the Rays have been his most productive to date. In 298 contests, he hit .265/.310/.480 with 51 homers and 132 RBI. He made the 2017 All Star team for his efforts.

2018 would start for Dickerson with another trade, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tristan Gray, Daniel Hudson, and cash. Although Dickerson didn’t get named to another All Star team that year, he did earn his first Gold Glove for his work in left field. He posted a .996 fielding percentage and was worth 18 DRS above average. At the plate, he hit .300/..330/.474 with another 13 long-balls and 55 RBI.

Dickerson also involves himself with worthy causes throughout the year. Last year, he was heavily involved with Assists for Autism while with the Pirates.

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Prior to the 2019 trade deadline, Dickerson appeared in 44 games for the Pirates and slashed a nice healthy .315/.373/.551 with 18 doubles and four homers. What wasn’t as healthy was Dickerson himself. After having averaged 144 games over his last three seasons, Dickerson had several trips to the injured list. At the trade deadline, the Pirates sent him to the Philadelphia Phillies for international bonus pool money. 34 games yielded a .293/.307/.579 line with another eight homers and 34 RBI.

Although envisioned at the time of his signing as a glorified part-timer expected to appear in 120 or so games, there’s no reason Dickerson couldn’t play in them all if he stays healthy. Through the first five games of spring, he’s gone one-for-six with an RBI, a strikeout and one caught stealing. In 12 innings of work in the outfield, he’s made two putouts in two chances.

One flaw in Dickerson’s game is his inability to wait for his pitch, according to Statcast. He ranked in the bottom two percent of the major leagues in 2018 with a 3.9 percent walk-rate, and has averaged 5.2 percent through his career. His strikeout rate, however, is a much more palatable mark of 21.5 through his career, including 19.8 percent in 2019. So dude swings at a lot, makes a lot of contact.