The Rays announced the hiring of former All-Star Corey Dickerson as first base coach. It’s the first big league coaching job for the 36-year-old, who last played in the majors two years ago. Former first base coach Michael Johns took the bench coach job with the Nationals in November.
Dickerson played two seasons under skipper Kevin Cash in Tampa Bay, who acquired him in a 2016 deal that sent then-prospect Germán Márquez to the Rockies. He combined for a .265/.310/.480 batting line in 298 games with the Rays, earning the aforementioned All-Star selection in the ’17 season. Tampa Bay traded the left-handed hitter to the Pirates during the 2017-18 offseason. Dickerson hit .300 and won a Gold Glove during his first year in Pittsburgh.
Traded to the Phillies at the 2019 deadline, Dickerson then bounced around as a bench bat and wound up playing for four more teams. He finished his career as a .280/.323/.476 hitter with 136 home runs in nearly 4000 plate appearances. Dickerson topped 20 homers on three occasions and drove in almost 500 runs.
Dickerson’s playing career came to an end when he was released by the Nationals in 2023. He does have a bit of coaching experience, albeit not in the professional ranks. He coached high school ball in his native Mississippi this year.
Loved this guy in Pittsburgh, good luck
Trivia question: Who was the player to be named in the trade that sent Dickerson from the Pirates to the Phillies?
I will guess … Rodolfo Castro?
They never named one, did they?
The Pirates and Phillies later agreed to sending cash to the Pirates instead
Good hitter, When he joined the Blue Jays I remember thinking I probably wouldn’t like his personality because “Corey Dickerson” sounds like a classic name for a high school bully. Turns out he was a super nice guy. and seemed pretty popular with this teammates. Wish him well in Tampa.
Marlins legend.
Forever giant!
He never played for the Giants. Nice try.
I was thinking of Alex.
Forever giant.
Forever Blue Jay!
A really useful player until he hit 30 years old.
Made $43 million in his career, 13 BWar. Sure, everyone wants to be the next Joe Morgan or Mike Trout, but I don’t think you’d find many guys who wouldn’t take this career.
If I had whatever is leftover from taxes, etc on $43 mil, other then travelling around the world surfing, I don’t think you could find a better way to spend 6 months a year then being around a bunch of MLB ball parks.
When your favorite players are coaching… you feel old
Wasn’t exactly fan friendly. Hope he’s mellowed and appreciates this opportunity from the Rays.
That’s a fantastic career line….
Professional hitter. Surprised that he wouldn’t be used as a hitting coach.
Seems like not that long ago I thought he was a player the Rockies could build around, but I also thought that about Jordan Lyles at around the same time