Report: Dickerson’s Sprained Ankle Leads To Career-Saving Surgery

Alex Dickerson. Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.

According to an article by John Maffei in the U~T San Diego, minor leaguer Alex Dickerson will rehab his surgically repaired left heel for about five months after undergoing a potentially career saving procedure. Dickerson sprained his left ankle during Spring Training, and an MRI revealed a hole in his heel. The procedure to take care of the abnormality involved grafting a piece of his tibia bone to his heel.  Dickerson opted for the surgery because the abnormality in his heel could have led to the shattering of his ankle.

As Maffei notes, Dickerson came to the Padres in the winter through a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first baseman/right fielder was having a solid spring with two home runs and a .280 batting average before the sprained ankle and MRI changed the course of his 2014 season.

In 2013, Dickerson put up excellent numbers at Double-A Altoona. The 23-year-old had a .288/.337/.494 slash with 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 126 games.

Dickerson will resume his quest to the big leagues in late 2014 or early 2015.  He is from San Diego (Poway High School), so making the majors with the Padres would be extra sweet for the hometown kid.