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Padres News: Padres Alex Dickerson Thankful for Last Spring’s Injury

It’s rare that a player is ever happy to get injured, but for San Diego Padres prospect Alex Dickerson that was the case last spring. He finally had the chance to go to big league camp for the first time in his career, but his time in camp was short lived.

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He stumbled over a sprinkler head, leading to a MRI to see if there was any structural damage, but what was found may have saved his career. The MRI revealed a hole in Dickerson’s heel. Had that hole ever shattered it may have ended his career and impacted him for the rest of his life.

To heal the heel, part of his tibia was grafted onto the heel to strengthen it. That procedure was expected to hold him out for the remainder of the entirety of the season, but Dickerson wouldn’t allow that. Speaking to the San Diego Union Tribune Dickerson said,

"“My leg was still really weak at that point. I was supposed to miss the whole season, but I made a conscious effort to try to get on the field. I knew structurally I’d be alright. I could push myself. The one thing that was lagging behind was leg strength, which I lost to atrophy because of lying in bed for a month in a half.”"

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Dickerson made his way back onto the diamond in June. In 34 games with AA San Antonio he performed well hitting .321/.367/.496 with three home runs and 24 RBI. To put up numbers like that coming off a major injury and no game action in almost a year is nothing short of impressive. It was impressive enough where the Padres felt the need to protect him from the Rule 5 draft by adding him to the 40 man roster.

While the outfield picture may be crowded, Dickerson could find his way onto the big league roster some time this season as a first baseman. With no long term fixture in place and a lack of lefties in the lineup, injuries or lack of production could cause the Padres to turn to the 24 year old. Now that the threat to his career has been removed Dickerson could take the next step forward and possible establish himself as the Padres first baseman of the future.

Next: Morrow Fighting for Final Rotation Spot

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