Alex Dickerson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #22 prospect in 2016
  Lightly recruited out of high school in Poway, Calif., Dickerson starred in the Cape Cod League before winning the Big Ten Conference triple crown as an Indiana sophomore in 2010. A 2011 third-round pick by the Pirates, he went on to win the high Class A Florida State League MVP award in 2012 and the rookie of the year trophy in the Double-A Eastern and Triple-A Pacific Coast leagues in 2013 and 2015. The Pirates traded Dickerson to his hometown Padres after the 2013 season for Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas, but his San Diego career got off to a rocky start. He severely sprained his ankle during 2014 spring training, then an MRI revealed a cyst on his left heel that required surgery, which knocked him out for most of the season. When healthy, Dickerson has shown he can hit. He stays on the ball with a balanced lefthanded swing and makes enough hard contact to project as an average hitter with fringe-average power. He'll have to hit to have a career of any kind because the natural first baseman doesn't add value with defense or baserunning. Because of a depth-perception problem, Dickerson is a fringe-average defender on the outfield corners with an average arm. He turns 26 early in the 2016 season and could be an option for the big league club in a part-time role at first base and left field.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #22 prospect in 2015
  The Pirates traded Dickerson to the Padres following the 2013 season--for Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas--but his Padres career got off on the wrong foot when he severely sprained his ankle during 2014 spring training, then an MRI revealed that a cyst on his left heel could jeopardize his career if left untreated. Surgery and rehab kept him out until mid-July, but Dickerson hit well enough at Double-A San Antonio when he returned to earn a spot on the 40-man roster. He stays on the ball with a balanced lefthanded swing and makes enough hard contact to project as an average hitter with fringe-average power. He's a fringe-average defender in right field with an average arm and below-average speed, making first base his best position. Dickerson has the type of bat that could be useful in a part-time role.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #25 prospect in 2014
  Dickerson won the Big Ten Conference triple crown as a sophomore at Indiana in 2010. He tailed off as a junior, however, as he dealt with a back injury and fell to the third round of the draft. The Padres acquired him in a November 2013 trade with the Pirates in which they parted with Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas. Dickerson has a good hitting approach, using the whole field and showing good bat-to-ball skills. A line-drive hitter, he does not generate the power typically expected from a corner player, particularly one with his physicality. At Double-A Altoona in 2013, he went on a power binge in June and July, mashing 11 home runs. The Pirates converted Dickerson to first base immediately after signing him after he played the outfield in college, but he played primarily right field in the Eastern and Arizona Fall leagues in 2013. He has below-average range and speed, though, and many scouts believe his future lies at first base. Dickerson will begin 2014 at Triple-A El Paso as he attempts to chase down Yonder Alonso and Tommy Medica on the depth chart.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #11 prospect in 2013
  Dickerson won the Big Ten Conference triple crown as a sophomore in 2010, before his numbers fell off somewhat the next year--as they did throughout college baseball because of the use of toned-down bats. The Pirates still were attracted to his all-around hitting ability and drafted him in the third round, and he repaid their faith by going to high Class A in his first full pro season and winning the league MVP award. Dickerson uses the whole field and doesn't try to pull everything. He has the raw strength to have at least average power once he gets more comfortable turning on inside pitches. Dickerson was a left fielder in college, but Pittsburgh immediately moved him to first base because he has below-average speed and arm strength. He made nice strides in the field last season, though his hands a little stiff. Dickerson will make the jump to Double-A in 2013. If he develops more power, he could get to the major leagues in 2014 because the Pirates don't have many longball hitters.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #11 prospect in 2012
  Dickerson had an outstanding college career, winning the Big Ten Conference triple crown in 2010 and tying Indiana's career home run record with 47. The Pirates were thrilled to get him in the third round of the 2011 draft, where they signed him for $380,700. With his advanced approach to hitting, he made an easy transition to pro ball. Dickerson uses the whole field and has the raw strength to hit the ball out to any part of the park. He's also willing to take a walk if pitchers won't challenge him, and projects as a solid hitter with slightly above-average power. Dickerson played left field in college, but his lack of speed and range prompted Pittsburgh to immediately move him to first base in pro ball. Though he made six errors in 34 games, he can become an adequate defender in time. He may skip a level and jump to high Class A for his first full pro season. The Pirates haven't had a 30-homer first baseman since Jason Thompson in 1982 and don't have any can't-miss prospects at the position, so the path to Pittsburgh is wide open for Dickerson.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #11 prospect in 2011
  One of the best hitters in college baseball during his three years at Indiana, Dickerson won the Big Ten Conference triple crown as a sophomore in 2010 and made an easy transition to pro ball this summer. A natural hitter with an advanced approach and a smooth stroke, he impressed with his abilty to handle offspeed stuff and lefthanded pitchers. He generates serious leverage and above-average raw power, allowing him to drive the ball out to all fields. Dickerson played mostly left field for the Hoosiers before moving to first base as a pro. A below-average runner, he lacked the desired range for the outfield. While he'll never be a standout defender at first base, the Pirates think he can be an adequate defender in time.

• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  Lightly recruited out of high school in Poway, Calif., Dickerson starred in the Cape Cod League before winning the Big Ten Conference triple crown as an Indiana sophomore in 2010. A 2011 third-round pick by the Pirates, he went on to win the high Class A Florida State League MVP award in 2012 and the rookie of the year trophy in the Double-A Eastern and Triple-A Pacific Coast leagues in 2013 and 2015. The Pirates traded Dickerson to his hometown Padres after the 2013 season for Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas, but his San Diego career got off to a rocky start. He severely sprained his ankle during 2014 spring training, then an MRI revealed a cyst on his left heel that required surgery, which knocked him out for most of the season. When healthy, Dickerson has shown he can hit. He stays on the ball with a balanced lefthanded swing and makes enough hard contact to project as an average hitter with fringe-average power. He'll have to hit to have a career of any kind because the natural first baseman doesn't add value with defense or baserunning. Because of a depth-perception problem, Dickerson is a fringe-average defender on the outfield corners with an average arm. He turns 26 early in the 2016 season and could be an option for the big league club in a part-time role at first base and left field.