Padres outfielder Alex Dickerson will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a sprained UCL in his throwing elbow, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (Twitter link). Dickerson had been considering non-surgical options but instead he’ll go under the knife near the end of March, and be sidelined for the entire 2018 season.
Dickerson, 27, made a good impression as a rookie in 2016, hitting .257/.333/.455 with 10 homers over 285 plate appearances for San Diego. He hasn’t played a big league game since, however, as back problems and eventual surgery sidelined him for all of 2017. Dickerson was already facing a tough path to a 25-man roster spot due to the Padres’ crowded left field situation, and now he’ll lose another year of his career due to the Tommy John procedure.
A third-round pick for the Pirates in the 2011 draft, Dickerson came to the Padres in November 2013 in a trade for Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas. Dickerson has posted very strong minor league numbers, with a career .309/.367/.501 slash line over 2138 PA down on the farm. Baseball America ranked him as San Diego’s 22nd-best prospect prior to the 2016 season.
Just another injury in a long line of injuries. He looked promising but now not sure he will be able to make a major impact on any team.
Godspeed
You black emperor
Wakanda forever
Godspeed you black emperor is a band you philistines
He’s not going off to battle
How awful for him. That’s so unfortunate I really hope he manages to work his way back. Seemed like he was going to be a solid player before all the injuries. Hope for a speedy recovery!
That stinks
Sorry to hear he might be done
Got to feel for this kid. Makes the team and has a decent rookie season. Then he hurts his back and has surgery so he misses 2017. Now this.
Sucks
Well that’s clears a 40 man spot but that sucks
Na na na na
Na na na na
Hey hey hey
Goodbye!
Rude
This guy can’t catch a break. At least TJ surgery has a shorter recovery time for position players compared to pitchers.
Is he the real Corey’s brother
nope
Baseball-Reference notes major-league baseball relations on each player’s page. Up at the top, by the biographical information.
That does stink. He was a decent platoon bat for the 2016 Padres and probably could have had some trade value at that point, but by the time he’s back I doubt a rebuilding team awash in outfielders will have much use for a 28-year-old platoon outfielder with poor defense. I hope he at least gets to have a career and I’m at least glad he gets to be on a major league roster for insurance and salary purposes.
I really liked what I saw of him when he was up with the Padres. I was hoping he could make a comeback and be in the mix for one of the outfield positions this year.