Joe Dickerson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #24 prospect in 2009
  Dickerson saw his 2008 season end early, as a fastball in on the hands broke his left index finger on July 13 and sidelined him until the Arizona Fall League. He's a classic tweener. If you're an optimist, you focus on his solid bat, his defense in right field and his ability to play center field in a pinch. If you're a pessimist, you fixate on his lack of a clear profile. He doesn't project to hit enough to be a big league corner outfielder, and he doesn't play defense well enough to be a big league center fielder. In any case, Dickerson has been one of the most consistent hitters in the system since the Royals made him a fourth-round pick in 2005. As he has climbed the ladder, he has showed diminished power production, in part because he's learned how to use the whole field instead of employing the pull-happy approach he entered pro ball with. His bat control allows him to put the barrel on the ball consistently. He has a tick above-average speed, but that never has paid off in basestealing success. He can use that speed to take an extra base and to cover more ground that most right fielders. His arm is average. Dickerson has moved one level at a time though the system and will continue to do so in 2009, when he advances to Double-A.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #26 prospect in 2008
  After a pair of standout seasons in the Rookie-level Arizona and Pioneer leagues, Dickerson made a fine full-season debut as a 20-year-old, ranking among the Midwest League leaders in batting. An early-season adjustment, in which Dickerson steadied his base by correcting a tendency to move his feet in the batter's box, paid off when he batted .302 after the all-star break. The adjustment allowed him to use his hands better and turn on balls on the inside half of the plate. He has average to above-average speed but is not an advanced basestealer, indicated by being caught 13 times in 39 steal attempts. Dickerson is still filling out and his power numbers should improve over time. Where Dickerson fits in the outfield is a question. He may not have the speed and range for center field and would need to develop significantly more power at the plate to stick at a corner outfield spot. Dickerson has drawn comparisons to Brad Wilkerson as a potential corner outfielder who can play center, and he will begin 2008 in high Class A.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #28 prospect in 2007
  Dickerson led the Arizona League in RBIs and triples in his 2005 pro debut, and he posted similar numbers in his encore last year one step up in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He uses a short, quick stroke to generate pull-side power. He consistently makes hard contact with pitches on the inner half, but his plate coverage needs to improve because pitchers at higher levels will exploit his hole on the outer half. Dickerson shows the ability to close that hole during soft-toss and batting practice, but it's still an issue during games. Though he has above-average speed, he's still learning to steal bases and has been nailed in 20 of his 38 pro attempts. Dickerson is solid in center field because he gets good reads and breaks, but there are concerns that he lacks the athleticism to stay there. As he adds strength to his frame, he may not be able to maintain his current range. If that happens, his fringe-average arm would limit him to left field. After two years of Rookie ball, Dickerson is ready to prove himself in low Class A.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #17 prospect in 2006
  A fourth-round pick in June, Dickerson chose a $250,000 bonus over attending Texas. He immediately slapped his name all over the Arizona League's leader boards, ranking first in RBIs and triples, second in extra-base hits, third in hits and fifth in slugging. His offensive accolades were impressive because he entered pro ball known more for his above-average speed and defense. Dickerson didn't disappoint in those areas, either, rating as one of the system's best defensive outfielders because of his ability to get good reads and jumps to cover lots of ground in center field. His only knock as a defender is his below-average arm, which is still playable in center. Dickerson's line-drive swing is quick to the ball, but he swings and misses a lot against breaking balls, something that could improve with experience. He can also be very pull-conscious, a remnant from his since-adjusted high school stance where he stood so close to the plate that his left foot was almost in front of it. He still can smoke fastballs on the inner half, but needs to work on staying back on pitches on the outer half so he can drive them for power. Dickerson's overall approach drew comparisons to that of Mark Kotsay, who played his college ball at Cal State Fullerton, just down the road from where Dickerson grew up in Yorba Linda. Dickerson moves up to Idaho Falls for 2006.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #9 prospect in 2005
  A lefthanded-hitting center fielder, Dickerson's style and approach were compared to Mark Kotsay's. Managers also compared him to Chris Lubanski, Kansas City's first-round pick in 2003 who made his professional debut in the AZL two years ago. Lubanski led the minor leagues in RBIs this season, and Dickerson topped the AZL in the same category. Dickerson's bat is his best tool. He has good bat speed with a line-drive swing, but he needs to be more selective because he chases too many breaking balls out of the strike zone. A dead pull hitter, Dickerson has limited raw power but more than Lubanski at a similar stage. He led the league with nine triples. Dickerson doesn't have Lubanski's speed but got better reads and took better routes to balls in center field than Lubanski did in his maiden season. He also wasn't afraid to play shallow and go back on balls.

• December, 2006 Scouting Report
  Dickerson led the Arizona League in RBIs and triples in his 2005 pro debut, and he posted similar numbers in his encore last year one step up in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He uses a short, quick stroke to generate pull-side power. He consistently makes hard contact with pitches on the inner half, but his plate coverage needs to improve because pitchers at higher levels will exploit his hole on the outer half. Dickerson shows the ability to close that hole during soft-toss and batting practice, but it's still an issue during games. Though he has above-average speed, he's still learning to steal bases and has been nailed in 20 of his 38 pro attempts. Dickerson is solid in center field because he gets good reads and breaks, but there are concerns that he lacks the athleticism to stay there. As he adds strength to his frame, he may not be able to maintain his current range. If that happens, his fringe-average arm would limit him to left field. After two years of Rookie ball, Dickerson is ready to prove himself in low Class A.