Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Corey Dickerson, a 2008 Brookhaven Academy graduate and McComb native, found out he was traded from the Colorado Rockies back in late January when he was on the campus of Meridian Community College.
Dickerson said Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich called him to inform him of the trade, thanked him for everything, wished him luck and said he would always be rooting for him.
“I was actually at batting practice with my college, Meridian Community College, when I actually found out,” said Dickerson, who played at Meridian from 2008-10. “…My stomach dropped a little bit. I couldn’t believe something like that would actually happen. I started to become excited about it being closer to come, being on the East Coast. I got to be very excited because they were very welcoming.
“I felt like I was part of that team for years. Everybody is really young on this team. The front office — they communicate very well. Every coach and every player was excited to have me, so I was pretty pumped up about it.”
Dickerson and Minor League third baseman Kevin Padlo were traded to the Rays for pitcher Jake McGee and pitching prospect German Marquez.
Dickerson said he and McGee traded residences, so it worked out well. He added he rented a place for spring training in Charlotte, Fla., and another home in the Tampa Bay during the regular season.
“It’s basically rent wherever you go and then we have our house back home (in Meridian),” Dickerson said.
Dickerson is batting .222, has three home runs, three RBIs, two doubles and four runs while the Rays are off to a 4-7 start this season.
“When you start a season, the season’s so long and people don’t understand,” he said. “If you start off really hot, people are high on you, but you’ve got 600 or something at bats still to go. You don’t get your hopes up or down too quick.”
However, Dickerson said hitting three home runs with the Rays took some pressure off him.
“I think for players, it’s more or less you look to get that first hit or first home run out of the way,” he said. “That’s the hardest part — getting going. Samples like this are too small of a sample size, so far.”
While he is playing well in his new home, the trade also benefited his family.
“My wife (Beth Anne) has been able to visit more,” he said. “My family’s got to come down once, but they all get to watch on TV more.”
Dickerson said there are several differences between being on an American League team compared to a National League team, but he would be happy anywhere.
“Baseball is baseball,” he said. “That’s the way I look at it, but being in the National League’s a little different playing in the West Coast with no humidity. Of course, there’s a little strategy to it with being able to double switch. You’ve got to be able to play the field. If you want an off day, it’s got to be an off day. You can’t DH. American League’s definitely got some history in it, playing the Yankees and Boston — teams like that — playing in their stadiums. I look at every ballpark as you’re in the Major Leagues and playing Major League Baseball. Hardly nobody ever gets to do it, so I’m happy to play in every stadium. I don’t care where it is. I’m playing baseball.”
Dickerson broke two ribs during the 2015 season while diving for a catch and was on the 15-day disabled list twice for a left foot plantar fasciitis but is healthy now.
“I’ve felt great since probably around Christmas time,” he said. “My ribs, once they healed during the season, I came back and played and was 100 percent from that.
“This training staff (with the Rays) has been hands on ever since they traded for me. I’ve had zero problems. That’s probably been the most exciting for me is mentally knowing I’m healthy and I can just play the game and let it take care of itself.”
Dickerson said he feels like it is possible to play all 162 games this season. He added last season was the first time he was injured, but he grew mentally from it and succeeded every time he came back.
The Rockies selected Dickerson in the 29th round of the 2009 MLB draft. Colorado selected him again the eighth round of the 2010 draft. He said his most memorable day was his debut June 22, 2013, with the Rockies on the road against the Washington Nationals.
Colorado won 7-1 and Dickerson was 2 for 4 with two doubles, one run and one RBI.
He said he enjoys coming from a supportive small town.
“People always share on Facebook or put videos up of my home runs,” he said. “People definitely shoot me encouraging messages sometimes — people I’ve never heard of, but I still get to see people care and support me.”
Dickerson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Dickerson of Brookhaven.
