Rocky Mountain high

Colorado drafts MCC’s Dickerson in Round 8
By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — After getting a phone call Monday, Corey Dickerson anticipated being drafted during Tuesday's portion of the Major League Baseball draft.

Still, when the Colorado Rockies pulled the trigger in the eighth round, it didn't change any of the excitement for the Meridian Community College star.

"They called me the day before and told me they had me slotted four through seven, so I was kind of expecting to go somewhere like that," Dickerson said after being chosen 260th overall. "I slipped to eight and they called me, and even before I was off the phone they had taken me.

"It was pretty exciting, and I just feel blessed because not too many Mississippi people get picked in the first 10 rounds."

The Rockies, though, were interested in the 6-foot-3 center fielder long before the draft began Monday. Colorado originally grabbed Dickerson last year in the 29th round. After returning to the Eagles and his raising his numbers across the board, his stock did the same.

"One thing Corey really got better at was defensively," Meridian assistant coach Dillon Sudduth said. "He came to us as a high school shortstop and we moved him to center field, and it was his first year out there last year. He had some growing pains, but the more he played the more he worked at it and the better he got. He's such a good athlete.

"And then the hitting, he just took that to another level. The more at-bats you get and as hard as he works, whether it's in the cage or in the weight room, your only choice is to get better.

"He improved his power numbers while decreasing his strikeouts, which is unbelievable. The kid had more home runs than strikeouts, that's crazy."

After hitting .381 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs during his All-American freshman year in 2009, Dickerson paced the Meridian offense this past season to the tune of .459 with 21 home runs, 73 runs and 71 RBIs. The average is the third-highest in MCC history, while the home runs are the second-most in an Eagles' season.

"I just wanted to maintain, at least accomplish what I did last year," Dickerson said. "My goal was to do more than I did last year, but I wanted to at least get there and then exceed from there."

That approach paid off, as did Dickerson's devotion to work, according to Sudduth.

"The main thing about Corey that separates him is his work ethic," he said. "The kid is as talented or more talented than anybody on the field at the junior college level, and he outworks everybody. He works like he's the least talented, but he's got more talent than anybody I ever played with or coached, especially when it comes to swinging the bat.

"He plays the game the right way, really gets after it every day whether it's practice or games. That's going to translate good to the pro level because you're playing every day."

Now, Dickerson has to decide whether to sign with the Rockies or to continue his career with Mississippi State, where he signed during the fall. That is a process Dickerson said he and his parents will begin later this week or next week. For now, though, he is still just enjoying the ride.

"I'm just taking it all in," Dickerson said. "They're supposed to call later this week and we'll negotiate. Me and my parents have to decide what's best for me, and what's the right road for me to take.

"It's a feeling you can't hardly describe. You've always to do it since you were in high school and little league and stuff. I just feel grateful because everybody around me wishes they had the chance and I have the chance. It's exciting.."



Beckwith picked in Round 21

Dickerson's former MCC teammate William Beckwith was picked in the 21st round by the Atlanta Braves. After earning All-District and All-Region honors with the Eagles in 2008, Beckwith played at George C. Wallace Community College this year.