Cody Dickson
| IP | 549 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.967 |
| WHIP | 1.503 |
| BB/9 | 4.639 |
| SO/9 | 7.148 |
- Full name Cody Kyle Dickson
- Born 04/27/1992 in Arlington, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Sam Houston State
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Drafted in the 4th round (119th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 (signed for $375,000).
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When Dickson is good, he can be very good, such as when he ranked as the top prospect in the California Collegiate League last summer or when he pitched a one-hitter against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in March. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has a loose arm that can deliver 90-95 mph fastballs, above-average curveballs and average changeups--an arsenal that could have made him a third-round pick. But his draft stock took a hit in April, when he gave up 17 runs in four innings over back-to-back starts and pitched his way out of Sam Houston State's rotation because he couldn't find the strike zone. When Smith rushes his delivery he gets off line to the plate, which ruins his control. He returned to the weekend rotation in mid-May with seven shutout innings against Southeastern Louisiana. As a southpaw with two plus pitches and a solid third offering, not to mention projection remaining, Dickson could be a No. 3 starter if he can harness his delivery and trust his stuff.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Dickson slipped to the fourth round of the 2013 draft despite being a lefthanded starter with good stuff. Scouts dropped him because control problems forced him to move to the bullpen at Sam Houston State that spring. His wildness has followed him to pro ball, where he still has to work on the timing of his delivery. If he can throw strikes, he has the makings of a solid mid-rotation starter. Dickson throws his tick above-average fastball in the lows 90s and it will get up to 95 mph on occasion. He complements the heater with a curveball and a changeup that both flash plus, though with much inconsistency. Dickson made big strides at low Class A West Virginia in 2014. After posting a 5.58 ERA in his first 13 starts, he had a 2.45 mark in his last 14 starts. He will begin 2015 at high Class A Bradenton, but if he throws strikes consistently he could force an in-season promotion to Double-A Altoona. -
The Pirates have lacked lefthanded pitching prospects in recent years and attempted to try rectify that in the 2013 draft by selecting high schooler Blake Taylor in the second round and Dickson in the fourth. They signed Dickson for $375,000 after he bounced between the rotation and bullpen at Sam Houston State during an inconsistent junior season. His fastball usually sits in the 91-93 mph range and tops out of 95. Unlike most college pitchers, he still has projection remaining and could add a tick or two to his fastball as his body fills out. Dickson's curveball and changeup also flash plus at times, but his biggest problem is control. He will go through spells where he almost completely loses the strike zone--he walked 5.2 batters per nine innings over three college seasons. Though Dickson had a few control glitches, he pitched well in his pro debut at short-season Jamestown in 2013 and did not allow an earned run in seven of his last eight starts. The Pirates likely will push him to high Class A Bradenton in 2014, and as a three-pitch lefty he has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter if he can cut down on the walks.
Draft Prospects
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When Dickson is good, he can be very good, such as when he ranked as the top prospect in the California Collegiate League last summer or when he pitched a one-hitter against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in March. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has a loose arm that can deliver 90-95 mph fastballs, above-average curveballs and average changeups--an arsenal that could have made him a third-round pick. But his draft stock took a hit in April, when he gave up 17 runs in four innings over back-to-back starts and pitched his way out of Sam Houston State's rotation because he couldn't find the strike zone. When Smith rushes his delivery he gets off line to the plate, which ruins his control. He returned to the weekend rotation in mid-May with seven shutout innings against Southeastern Louisiana. As a southpaw with two plus pitches and a solid third offering, not to mention projection remaining, Dickson could be a No. 3 starter if he can harness his delivery and trust his stuff.
