San Diego Padres 2018 Review: Outfielder Alex Dickerson

Our 2018 San Diego Padres In Review series begins with a few players who never stepped on the field in 2018.

Are you missing San Diego Padres baseball yet? It has been a few weeks since Manuel Margot scored the winning run of game 162 for the Friars and the attention of fans is quickly turning towards a potentially fast and furious offseason. After taking some time to sit back and reflect on the 2018 season, let’s begin looking back at the year, one player at a time.

Throughout this series, we will dive into their numbers, look at where they improved and where they regressed, and what role they will have on the team in 2019. With that being said, we’re going to start with a few players who missed the entire 2018 season but have a shot at contributing next season.

It’s been a long time since Alex Dickerson has been on the diamond for the San Diego Padres.

Alex Dickerson’s story is one you hate to see, as a baseball fan. Originally from Poway, California, Dickerson was a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Indiana University. The Padres acquired the outfielder in a November 2013 trade that sent outfielder Jaff Decker and RHP Miles Mikolas (yes, that Mikolas who went 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals this season) to Pittsburgh.

After winning the Pacific Coast League’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2015, Dickerson appeared in 84 games for the Padres in 2016, showcasing his power and on-base ability in his first stint in the big leagues. He hit .257 with a .333 OBP, .788 OPS, 16 doubles, and 10 home runs in 253 at-bats. He even swiped five bags and recorded two triples.

Dickerson hasn’t seen the field since that encouraging rookie campaign. He missed the entire 2017 season with a bulging disk and surgery to relieve the pain. Spring training 2018 was supposed to his opportunity to bounce back and fight for an active roster slot, however, Dickerson’s spring ended early after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Two critical years lost to devastating injuries.

Looking ahead to 2019.

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Dickerson is under team control for 2019 and will be ready to fully participate by the time spring training rolls around. Andy Green really likes Dickerson’s bat and patience at the plate, however, it may not be enough to crack the roster.

Even finding a home on the 40-man roster will be tough. The Padres currently have Dickerson, Dinelson Lamet, Clayton Richard, and Franchy Cordero on the 60-day disabled list and will need to be placed back on the 40-man. The team must also find room for prospects such as Chris Paddack, Logan Allen, Austin Allen, and others or risk losing them in the December Rule-5 draft.

Hopefully, Dickerson comes back to have a strong spring and the Padres are able to send him to El Paso to rehab and play regularly. At 28 years of age, there’s still time for Dickerson to find success at the major league level and whether it is with the Padres or not, it is nearly impossible to not cheer for his success.

Next up in our series is a starting pitcher who just might be the best starter on the current roster.

Our 2018 San Diego Padres In Review series begins with a few players who never stepped on the field in 2018.

It’s been a long time since Alex Dickerson has been on the diamond for the San Diego Padres.

Looking ahead to 2019.

More from Friars on Base

Schedule