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Alex Dickerson
Alex Dickerson
from Wikipedia

Alexander Ross Dickerson (born May 26, 1990), nicknamed "Grandpa",[1] is an American professional baseball left fielder for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.

Key Information

In college at Indiana University he was a unanimous selection as the 2010 Big Ten Conference Baseball Player of the Year. Dickerson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 2012 Florida State League Player of the Year, 2013 Eastern League Rookie of the Year, and 2015 Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year. He made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2015. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018. Dickerson played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Amateur career

[edit]

Dickerson attended Poway High School in Poway, California, and played on the baseball team as a first baseman and outfielder. He batted .354/.420/.686 as a junior, .455/.522/.851 as a senior, and was named All-San Diego Division I Player of the Year.[2] At the age of fifteen Dickerson underwent back surgery, and first became known by the nickname Grandpa.[3][4]

The Washington Nationals selected Dickerson in the 48th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He elected, however, to attend Indiana University, where he played outfield and designated hitter for the Indiana Hoosiers baseball team from 2009 to 2011.[5][6] As a freshman, batting cleanup, Dickerson hit .370/.428/.618 with 14 home runs. He was named the Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Year and received Freshman All-American honors.[6][7][8]

Dickerson had a breakout season as a sophomore, slugging .805 (8th in the nation) and winning the Big Ten Triple Crown by leading the Big Ten in batting average (.419), home runs (24; second in the nation), and runs batted in (75).[5][6][9] He was named the Big Ten Conference Baseball Player of the Year, and earned first-team All-American honors.[6][9] In his junior season he batted .367/.440/.540.[10]

In 2009 and 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[11][12]

Professional career

[edit]

Pittsburgh Pirates

[edit]
Dickerson with the Altoona Curve in 2013

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Dickerson in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. After signing for a signing bonus of $380,700,[citation needed] Dickerson spent most of the rest of the 2011 season with the State College Spikes, batting .313/.393/.493 with an .886 OPS (9th in the New York-Pennsylvania League) in 150 at bats; his 16 doubles were second among all short-season batters.[13][5][14] Dickerson spent the 2012 season with the Bradenton Marauders, where he batted .295/.353/.451 with 31 doubles (4th in the league), 13 home runs (7th), and 90 RBIs (2nd) in 488 at bats and was named the Florida State League Player of the Year, a post-season All Star, and an MiLB organization All Star.[15][16][17]

Prior to the 2013 season, Dickerson was named the 7th-best first base prospect in baseball by MLB.com.[18] He spent 2013 with the Double-A Altoona Curve, where he moved from first base to the outfield. He batted .288/.337/.494 with 36 doubles (2nd in the league), 17 home runs, and 68 RBIs in 451 at bats and was named the Eastern League Rookie of the Year, a post-season All Star, and an MiLB organization All Star.[19]

San Diego Padres

[edit]

On November 25, 2013, the Pirates traded Dickerson to the San Diego Padres for Jaff Decker and Miles Mikolas.[20] Dickerson sprained his left ankle in 2014 spring training with the Padres when he stepped on a sprinkler head, and an MRI later found a bone cyst in his left heel which required surgery and a bone graft.[21][22] The surgery delayed his start to the 2014 season, but he finished with 34 games with the Double-A San Antonio Missions, batting .321/.367/.496 in 137 at bats.[23] On November 20, 2014, the Padres added Dickerson to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Dickerson spent most of 2015 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, hitting .307 (10th in the league)/.374/.503 with 82 runs (3rd), 36 doubles (6th), 9 triples (2nd), 12 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 459 at bats over 125 games, including 88 starts in left field.[5][24] His performance earned him the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year Award, and he was named a post-season All Star and an MiLB organization All Star.[16][25]

On August 6, 2015, Dickerson made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres with a pinch-hitting appearance in the 8th inning. He was called up to replace Will Venable, who went on paternity leave.[26] The next day, Dickerson collected his first Major League hit with a pinch single in extra innings. Dickerson returned to the Padres when rosters expanded in September.[27] A tweaked hip flexor limited his playing opportunities,[22][28] but Dickerson appeared in eight more games as a pinch hitter, and once as a defensive substitute in left field.

Dickerson started the 2016 season in Triple-A El Paso. On May 2, the Padres recalled Dickerson from Triple-A.[29] On May 10 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Dickerson hit a pinch-hit grand slam off of Adam Warren for his first career home run and his first four career RBIs.[30] He made his first Major League start in left field the following day, but was returned to El Paso on May 14.[31] With the Chihuahuas, he continued a 28-game minor league hitting streak through the end of May.[32] On June 28, Dickerson was recalled from El Paso when Jon Jay broke his forearm.[33] Dickerson remained as the regular left fielder for the Padres for the remainder of the season. For the season, with El Paso he batted .382/.425/.622 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in 217 at bats.[23] He finished the season with the Padres with a .257/.333/.455 batting line and 39 runs, 10 home runs, and 37 RBIs in 285 plate appearances. He made 65 starts in left field.

In spring training of 2017, Dickerson suffered a bulging disk. After initially trying to rehab the injury, Dickerson underwent back surgery by microdiscectomy to remove bulging disc material in his lower back which ended his season.[34]

In spring training of 2018, while trying to come back from his back surgery, Dickerson tore his UCL in his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery, costing him another full season.[35] He was outrighted off the roster after the season. He elected free agency on November 3, 2018, and later re-signed to a minor league deal on December 11.[36]

Playing for AAA El Paso in 2019, he hit .372/.469/.606 with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs in 94 at bats. Dickerson had his contract selected to the major leagues on May 3, 2019, but after 19 at bats with the Padres was designated for assignment on June 5.[23]

San Francisco Giants

[edit]

On June 10, 2019, Dickerson was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Franklin van Gurp, one of the first trades with new Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi. He played seven games for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.[23] On June 21, in his first game with the Giants, he hit a grand slam and had a career-high 6 runs batted in.[37] With the Giants in 2019, he batted .290/.351/.529 with 28 runs, 6 home runs, and 26 RBIs in 155 at bats.[23]

On September 1, 2020, Dickerson had a historic game which came as part of a 23–5 victory against the Rockies at Coors Field. He went 5–6 with 3 home runs and 2 doubles and tied the franchise records for runs scored (5) and total bases (16) in a game. His double in his last at bat traveled 414 feet and would have been a home run in any other MLB ballpark; thus he fell just short of tying Willie Mays' 4 home runs in a single game.[38] In 2020 he batted .298/.371/.576 with 28 runs, 10 home runs, and 27 RBIs in 151 at bats. He played 41 games in left field, and 5 games in right field.[39]

Avoiding arbitration, Dickerson and the Giants agreed on a $2.1 million salary for the 2021 season.[40] During the season, he was on the injured list three times, with right shoulder, upper back, and right hamstring issues. In the 2021 regular season, he batted .233/.304/.420 with a career-high 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in 283 at bats.[39] He played 82 games in left field, and his range factor per 9 innings of 1.78 was the fifth-best in the National League.[39]

On November 22, 2021, Dickerson was designated for assignment by the Giants to make room for pitcher Anthony DeSclafani.[41] On November 26, 2021, he was placed on unconditional release waivers.[42]

Atlanta Braves

[edit]

On March 16, 2022, Dickerson signed a non-guaranteed, major-league contract worth $1 million with the Atlanta Braves.[43] The Braves designated Dickerson for assignment on April 28.[44] Two days later, Dickerson was outrighted to the Gwinnett Stripers, for whom he batted .239/.305/.426 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 322 at bats, playing 40 games in right field and 20 games in left field.[45][46] He had four hits in 43 at bats for the Braves.[45] On October 17, Dickerson elected free agency.

Acereros de Monclova

[edit]

On April 8, 2023, Dickerson signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[47] In 12 games, he batted .261/.333/.370 with 12 hits and five RBI. Dickerson was released by Monclova on May 5.[16]

Long Island Ducks

[edit]

On May 12, 2023, Dickerson signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[48] In 115 games for the Ducks, Dickerson hit .314/.389/.576 with career–highs in home runs (26) and RBI (91).

Chunichi Dragons

[edit]

On December 22, 2023, Dickerson signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.[49] In 32 games for Chunichi in 2024, slashing .205/.314/.352 with three home runs and five RBI. On October 26, 2024, the Dragons announced they would not bring Dickerson back for the 2025 season, making him a free agent.[50]

High Point Rockers

[edit]

On June 18, 2025, Dickerson signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[51] In 78 games he hit .265/.367/.514 with 19 home runs, 68 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

Team Israel; World Baseball Classic

[edit]

Dickerson played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, in March 2023.[52][53][54] He is eligible through his Jewish wife.[55] He played for Team Israel manager and former All-Star Ian Kinsler, and alongside All-Star outfielder Joc Pederson and pitcher Dean Kremer, among others.[53][54] He played right field and batted .250.[56]

Personal life

[edit]

Dickerson and his wife Jennifer had a son in September 2020.[57] They reside in San Diego.[58]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Alexander Ross Dickerson (born May 26, 1990), commonly known as Alex Dickerson, is an American professional baseball who has played in (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and . A left-handed batter and thrower standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 226 pounds, Dickerson was selected by the in the third round (91st overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft after a standout college career at , where he set school records for home runs and RBIs. He made his MLB debut on August 6, 2015, with the Padres, appearing in 339 games over six seasons with a career of .255, 40 home runs, and 132 RBIs. Dickerson's career highlights include a breakout 2020 season with the Giants, where he posted a .298 and 10 home runs in 57 games, contributing to San Francisco's playoff appearance. After being traded to the Giants in 2018 and signing with the Braves in 2022, he represented Team Israel in the as the squad's sole non-Jewish player, qualifying through his Jewish wife and recording three hits across four games. Following his MLB tenure, Dickerson played for the in Japan's league in 2024 and spent the 2023 season in the independent (ALPB) with the , where he led the league with a .314 average, 26 home runs, and 91 RBIs. As of 2025, Dickerson continues his professional career in the ALPB, signing with the on June 18, 2025, after a stint in the Mexican Winter League with . Nicknamed "Grandpa" for his mature demeanor despite his relatively young age, he remains a power-hitting known for his patient approach at the plate and versatility in the outfield.

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Alex Dickerson was born on May 26, 1990, in Poway, California. He grew up in the San Diego suburb of Poway, where his family maintained a military household influenced by his father, Ross Dickerson, a Navy fighter pilot. This environment provided structure without excessive rigidity, allowing Dickerson to pursue his interests, including baseball, from a young age. Dickerson attended , graduating in 2008, and played on the school's team primarily as a and . During his senior year, he had a standout performance, batting .455 with 12 doubles, six triples, and eight home runs, showcasing his power and contact skills at the plate. Following high school, Dickerson transitioned to college baseball by enrolling at , where he continued his amateur career. This move marked the next phase of his development as a prospect in the sport.

College career

Dickerson enrolled at and played for the Hoosiers from 2009 to 2011, primarily as an and . As a in 2009, he appeared in 58 games, batting .370 with 14 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .618 , setting school records for home runs and RBIs while earning Big Ten of the Year honors and First Team All-American recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. In his sophomore year of 2010, Dickerson won the Big Ten triple crown by leading the conference in (.419), home runs (24), and RBIs (75) across 55 games, a performance that also included a .479 and .805 . His efforts earned him unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year accolades, First Team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball, the ABCA, and the NCBWA, District V Player of the Year from the ABCA, and co-IU Male Athlete of the Year; the 24 home runs ranked second in program history at the time. He also contributed to Indiana's Big Ten Tournament championship, batting .500 (6-for-12) in the event and earning All-Tournament recognition. As a junior in 2011, Dickerson batted .367 with 9 home runs and 49 RBIs in 54 games, leading the team in , (.540), and (.440) while earning First Team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball for the second straight year. Over his career, he posted a .386 , 47 home runs (a school record for three seasons), and 181 RBIs in 167 games. Following the 2011 season, during which Indiana reached the NCAA Bloomington Regional, Dickerson opted to enter the MLB Draft rather than return for his senior year.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

Dickerson was selected by the in the third round, 91st overall, of the out of . After signing for a $380,700 bonus, he made his professional debut that summer with the Pirates' short-season Class A affiliate, the of the New York-Penn League, where he batted .313 with three home runs over 41 games. In 2012, Dickerson advanced to High-A Bradenton Marauders in the , posting a .295 with 13 home runs and 90 RBIs in 129 games, earning him the league's Player of the Year award. He followed that performance in 2013 by moving up to Double-A with the of the Eastern League, where he hit .288 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs across 126 games, securing the Eastern League Rookie of the Year honors. On November 25, 2013, the Pirates traded Dickerson to the Padres in exchange for outfielder Jaff Decker and pitcher .

San Diego Padres

Dickerson was acquired by the Padres from the on November 25, 2013, in exchange for outfielder Jaff Decker and pitcher . His prior success with the Pirates organization, including being named Eastern League Rookie of the Year in 2013, had positioned him as a promising outfield prospect. He made his MLB debut with the Padres on August 6, 2015, against the at . That season, Dickerson primarily played for the Triple-A El Paso of the , where he batted .307 with 12 s, 71 RBI, and a .877 OPS over 125 games, earning him the PCL Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the league's team. In his brief major league appearance, he played 11 games, hitting .250 (2-for-8) without a . In 2016, Dickerson received extended opportunities in the Padres' outfield, appearing in 84 games with a .257 , 10 s, 37 RBI, and a .784 . His campaign showed power potential, including a four-game streak from July 20-27 that made him the first Padres to achieve the feat. However, his progress was halted on July 29 by a right hip contusion from an outfield collision with center fielder during a game against the , limiting him to just three more appearances that year. He also spent time on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with El Paso earlier in the season. Dickerson's 2017 season was entirely derailed by back issues, culminating in microdiscectomy surgery on June 28 to repair a bulging disc in his lower back. The procedure, performed after initial rehabilitation attempts failed, carried a 3-4 month recovery timeline but ultimately caused him to miss all of 2017. He returned to minor league action for rehabilitation stints with Single-A and Double-A later that year to rebuild strength. The injuries continued into 2018 when Dickerson sprained the in his left elbow during , leading to surgery on March 20. This kept him out for the entire season, with his recovery focused on rehabilitation assignments in the Padres' system, including time with El Paso in the PCL. Following the surgeries, Dickerson signed a minor league contract with the Padres on December 13, 2018, providing an opportunity to return in 2019. He began the year with El Paso, hitting .372 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 26 games before his contract was selected and he was called up to the majors on May 3. In 12 MLB games that spring, he batted .158 (3-for-19) with two RBI. Overall, through his time with the Padres ending in 2019, Dickerson played 107 major league games, posting a .250 , 10 home runs, and 39 RBI.

San Francisco Giants

On June 10, 2019, the Giants acquired Alex Dickerson from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Franklin Van Gurp. Dickerson, a left-handed hitting , was immediately slotted into the Giants' lineup, primarily as the starting left fielder, where he provided power from the left side of the plate during a rebuilding phase for the team. In 56 games with the Giants in 2019, Dickerson hit .290 with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs. Lingering effects from shoulder and oblique injuries sustained earlier with the Padres briefly impacted his early adjustment, but he stabilized as a option in the . The 2020 season, shortened to 60 games due to the , saw Dickerson appear in 52 contests for , where he batted .298 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs, helping anchor the corner spots. In 2021, Dickerson appeared in 111 games for the Giants, batting .233 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs. Prior to the season, he agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract with to avoid salary . Following the Giants' 107-win season, the team designated Dickerson for assignment on November 23, 2021, and released him the next day after he cleared waivers, effectively non-tendering him ahead of the deadline. Over his tenure from 2019 to 2021, Dickerson appeared in 219 games for the Giants, batting .260 with 29 home runs and 91 RBIs, establishing himself as a reliable left-handed bat during a transitional period for the franchise.

Atlanta Braves

On March 16, 2022, Alex Dickerson signed a one-year, non-guaranteed major league contract with the worth $1 million, following his solid 2021 season with the San Francisco Giants that included a .233 and 13 home runs. He impressed during and earned a spot on the roster as a left-handed option. Dickerson appeared in 13 games for the Braves early in the 2022 season, primarily serving as a platoon outfielder and designated hitter against right-handed pitching. In 33 at-bats, he posted a .121 batting average with 1 home run and 2 RBIs, struggling at the plate before being designated for assignment on April 28 to make room for the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. from injury. The Braves released Dickerson on October 17, 2022, at the conclusion of the season. Through his time with Atlanta, Dickerson's overall major league career statistics stood at a .255 batting average, 40 home runs, and 132 RBIs over 339 games.

Acereros de Monclova

Following his election to free agency after the 2022 season with the , Alex Dickerson signed with the of the Mexican League ahead of the 2023 campaign. The agreement was announced on April 8, 2023, allowing the 32-year-old left-handed to join the team's preseason preparations in , . Dickerson primarily played right and left field during his brief tenure, appearing in 12 games for the Acereros after being officially assigned to the roster on April 20. In 46 at-bats, he recorded 12 hits, including three doubles and one triple, for a .261 and five RBIs, while scoring four runs and drawing four walks. He did not hit any home runs in limited action, striking out 10 times. The Acereros released Dickerson on May 5, 2023, ending his stint in the Mexican League after just over two weeks of regular-season play.

Long Island Ducks

After being released by the Acereros del Norte of the Mexican League on May 5, 2023, Dickerson signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on May 12, later that month. In 107 games with the Ducks during the 2023 season, he posted a .314 batting average, along with 26 home runs and 91 RBIs, while ranking in the Atlantic League's top 10 in batting average, home runs, RBIs, total bases (231), slugging percentage (.576), and OPS (.965). Dickerson's offensive prowess was a of the Ducks' lineup, helping propel the team to a 66-58 record and a second-place finish in the North Division. He earned the 2023 DelMonte-Smelson Team MVP award, receiving the most fan votes at LIDucks.com for his standout contributions, including a four-hit performance on August 9 against the that powered a 6-5 victory.

Chunichi Dragons

Following a strong performance with the in the Atlantic League during the 2023 season, Dickerson signed a one-year contract with the of on December 23, 2023, to play as an import for the 2024 campaign. As one of the team's four permitted foreign players, Dickerson was expected to provide left-handed power from the corners, but his role remained limited due to injuries and competition in the lineup. In 34 games, he batted .205 with 3 home runs and 5 RBI, recording 18 hits in 88 at-bats while struggling against NPB pitching that emphasizes control and breaking balls differing from Major League styles. Dickerson faced notable challenges adapting to the Japanese environment, including the faster pace of play, smaller strike zones, and cultural adjustments to life in , where the Dragons are based. His tenure was further hampered by injuries that restricted his playing time and prevented a full integration into the team's disciplined, fundamentals-focused approach. The Dragons released Dickerson on October 26, 2024, concluding his brief stint in NPB after the team opted not to renew his contract.

High Point Rockers

Following his release from the in October 2024, Alex Dickerson signed with the of the Atlantic League of on June 18, 2025. In the 2025 regular season, Dickerson served as a key outfielder for the Rockers, providing power hitting and run production in 78 games. He ranked 10th in the league in batting average, tied for seventh in home runs, and eighth in RBI, while finishing fourth in slugging percentage and third in OPS. Dickerson's contributions extended into the playoffs, where he batted .324 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI over 9 games, helping power the Rockers' offense during their run to the Atlantic League Championship Series. The team ultimately fell to the York Revolution in the finals on October 1, 2025. As of November 2025, Dickerson is an unrestricted following the conclusion of the independent league season.

Team Israel and World Baseball Classic

2017 World Baseball Classic

Alex Dickerson qualified for through his wife's Jewish heritage, making him eligible for Israeli citizenship under the country's . However, he was not selected for the roster. The 2017 Team Israel roster featured outfielders such as Zach Borenstein, , Blake Gailen, and Mike Meyers, but Dickerson remained with the San Diego Padres organization during the tournament period.

2023 World Baseball Classic

Dickerson was selected to Team Israel's roster for the on February 9, 2023, as a following his MLB stints with the San Francisco Giants and ; he was the squad's sole non-Jewish player. This marked his debut in international competition for . Playing primarily as a , he appeared in all four of Israel's Pool D games at in , batting .250 with three hits in 12 at-bats and no RBIs or home runs. In Israel's opening 3-1 victory over on March 12, Dickerson went 2-for-3 with a single in the ninth inning that helped set up the go-ahead rally, contributing to the team's comeback from a 1-0 deficit. He struggled in the next two contests, going hitless in three at-bats with two s against in a 10-0 loss on March 13 and 0-for-2 with a versus the in another 10-0 defeat on March 14. Against on March 15, Dickerson recorded his third hit of the tournament—a single in four at-bats—while grounding into a , as Israel fell 5-1 to finish pool play 1-3 and fail to advance to the quarterfinals.

Personal life

Family

Alex Dickerson is married to Jennifer Dickerson. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Levi Ross Dickerson, on September 20, 2020, in . Dickerson took paternity leave from the Giants to be present for the birth, highlighting the importance of family during key personal moments. The family resides in , where Dickerson's parents also live.

Residence and other details

Dickerson resides in Carlsbad, a suburb of , , where he has strong family roots from his upbringing in the area. He earned the nickname "Grandpa" at age 15 following back surgery, a moniker given by friends that has persisted into his career, notably appearing on his jersey during MLB's 2019 . In a 2021 , Dickerson highlighted his philanthropy efforts in the area, focusing on supporting local community initiatives during his time with the Giants.

References

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