We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Colorado Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here)
Player: Corey Dickerson
Stats: 65 G, 234 PA, .304 AVG, .333 OBP, .536 SLG, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 119 wRC+, UZR -4.9, WAR 0.5
Big Moment: April 22, the Padres are at Coors Feild with free agent splash James Shields on the mound. Dickerson goes two for three with a walk and two solo shots. The second home run came in the eighth inning and tied the game at four. Daniel Descalso would later walk the Rockies off for a 5-4 win which put an end to their five-game losing streak.
Season Recap: The left-handed hitting 26-year old outfielder had a breakout year in 2014 in his first full season in the majors. 2015 was a huge step back for him, not in his play but because he couldn’t stay on the field. In May, he made his first trip to the DL with plantar fasciitis, after a five-game comeback he went back on the DL with the same injury. In July, he came back for another five-game stretch before going on the DL a third time with fractured ribs.
Dickerson played some centerfield this year along with his normal position in left. His defense has continued to be a struggle as the Rockies find a position for him, but he’s been an absolute hitting machine in his first 265 games in the purple pinstripes.
What’s Ahead: The former eighth-round pick of the Rockies has been the subject to trade rumors this winter. It makes sense considering it’s proven that he tears apart right-handed pitching and he still comes cheap as he just missed the Super Two cutoff, meaning he’ll still make the league minimum. His sixth best 18.2 ABs per HR in the NL in 2014 is not only desirable for other teams but for the Rockies. Really, if he stays healthy he can be one of the best hitters in the National League even with his below average hitting against left-handed pitching. Dickerson hit the first and last home runs of the 2015 season for the Rockies and there is no doubt the 26-year old still has his peak in front of him. The questions are, do the Rockies hang onto him? And is a position shift in the future? Dickerson’s bat is good enough to accept his sub-par defense in the lineup however, it would make sense for the Rockies to have him settle into a more defined role. With Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez also being the subject to trade rumors Dickerson could be the left-handed bat that steps up and turns into the ying to Nolan Arenado‘s right-handed yang.
