Rashun Dixon Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1959
AVG	.242
OBP	.339
SLG	.394
HR	59

Full name Rashun Deonte Dixon
Born 08/27/1990 in Jackson, MS
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Terry
Drafted in the 10th round (304th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2008 (signed for $600,000).

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The top high school position player in the Mississippi is Rashun Dixon. A football signee to Mississippi State, Dixon is athletic with raw baseball skills, highlighted by his speed and power potential. He projects to a corner outfield spot.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Dixon passed up the chance to play college football with his older brother Anthony at Mississippi State to sign with the A's for $600,000 as a 10th-round pick out of high school. Anthony has gone on to become a running back with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, and Rashun will try to join him across the bay. Like many former football players who turn to baseball as pros, Dixon had a big learning curve in order get a feel for the game, simply because he hadn't played much baseball. His physical tools are impressive. He has loose wrists and a nice, easy stroke at the plate, though he swings and misses much too much. When he reached full-season ball in 2010, his third year as a pro, he showed an improved sense of the strike zone and did a better job of fighting off tough pitches. His bat speed gives him considerable power potential, but he hasn't fully harnessed it and tends to get overaggressive. His football background shows through on defense, as Dixon is a natural athlete who goes and gets balls in the outfield. A catcher in high school, he played all three outfield positions last year, with his fringy speed and arm fitting best in left field. Dixon is still a project but his tools are hard to ignore. Oakland hopes he'll continue making strides as he moves up to high Class A in 2011.
One of the best athletes and youngest players in the 2008 draft, Dixon dropped to the 10th round because he had committed to play football at Mississippi State, where his brother Anthony is a star running back. Rashun signed quickly for $600,000, the highest bonus in his round. Oddly enough, Dixon was a catcher in high school, but the A's immediately moved him to center field to make the most of his athleticism and plus-plus speed. With good present strength, Dixon has plus raw power to all fields. Oakland helped Dixon set his feet and see the ball better, and to stay back and better leverage his weight transfer, which should help him more easily tap into his power. He led the Arizona League with 10 triples and ranked third with eight homers. While Dixon's upside is considerable, he's still raw in many phases of the game. He has a long swing and chased too many pitches out of the zone, leading the AZL with 68 strikeouts. He made some excellent catches and showed a strong arm in his pro debut, but he also looked lost at times in the outfield and still needs to improve his routes to the ball. He also must learn how to use his quickness on the bases. Dixon could open 2009 in low Class A, but the A's also could play it safe and assign him to short-season Vancouver.

Minor League Top Prospects

No AZL player improved during the season as much as Dixon. The raw five-tool talent had committed to play football at Mississippi State, where his brother Anthony is a star running back, but he changed his mind when the Athletics gave him a $600,000 bonus, the highest in the 10th round this year. At first, Dixon looked lost in the outfield, not surprising because he was a catcher in high school. By the end of the season, however, he was making highlight-reel catches in center field. He still struggles on taking proper routes, but he makes up for his mistakes with well above-average speed. A's manager Ruben Escalera says that Dixon could become another Torii Hunter. Strong and muscular at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Dixon can hit tape-measure shots but still chases pitches out of the strike zone too often. He showed off his strengths and weaknesses by leading the AZL in triples (10) and strikeouts (68) while ranking third in home runs (eight). The A's have worked with him to set his feet and see the ball better.