Dickerson eyeing top of lineup while taking veteran approach to spring

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – With more than nine years of major league service time, Corey Dickerson is by far one of the most experienced players at Nationals spring training, behind only Stephen Strasburg (who remains in D.C. after a setback in his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery over the offseason) and Patrick Corbin.

He is used to the grind of a six-week camp and 162-game season. He is even used to Grapefruit League play, having spent the last three spring trainings 15 minutes up the road with the Marlins and Cardinals in Jupiter and the previous four springs on the Gulf Coast side of the state with the Rays and Pirates.

All of that experience has allowed Dickerson to be one of the few players taking a veteran approach to his first spring training in West Palm Beach after signing a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Nationals in January.

“It's just a normal spring for me, it feels like,” Dickerson said of his adjustment to his new team so far in camp. “Played with a few guys, know a few guys, but it's been really easy adjusting and just going about my business. Putting in the work every day and guys have been great.

“Just work. Make sure I get quality work in every single day. Kinda be locked into details, really hone in on the fundamentals, try to get fundamentally sound before the season. I think if I do that all the big things take care of themselves.”

It’s a small sample size in early spring training games, but one small thing Dickerson has been able to do already is make contact at the plate. The 32-year-old is 3-for-5 with a double and four total bases in his first two spring training games with the Nationals.

The big question these results are leading to is where he will hit in manager Davey Martinez’s lineup. As a left-handed hitter with strong numbers against right-handed pitching (a career .287/.331/.505 slash line against righties), Dickerson figures to get most of his playing time against righty starters. And the way he’s hitting early in camp could push him higher up the lineup.

“I like Dickerson up there. He creates havoc for a pitcher, man,” Martinez said. “I've seen a lot of his at-bats, how he can have 10-, 12-pitch at-bats and then rifle a base hit. I like that up there. Plus, he's a professional hitter. All he can do is do what he does: He puts the ball in play. So we'll see how that pays off.”

Dickerson, who has hit mostly at the top of the order or right in the middle throughout his career, likes the idea of hitting in the No. 2 spot to get the most at-bats.

“I always like to get up to bat early,” he said. “I don't like to hit at the end, where you're kind of waiting a long time to kind of feel that rhythm. The earlier you get in the lineup, the quicker you can get back up. And as many at-bats as possible is ... I love to be up there, I love the opportunity and I've always loved to hit. So it's, like, a good spot in the lineup, for sure.”

That checks out because, of the batting order positions where he has at least 500 plate appearances, hitting second is his second-best spot with a career .289 average and .830 OPS.

In the field, Dickerson has been an outfielder throughout his professional career. But the former high school shortstop was seen taking ground balls at second base on one of the back fields at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, something he says he still does routinely.

“I played shortstop my whole life until I tore my labrum rotator cuff,” he said. “I probably would have played infield after I got drafted if I wouldn't have torn my shoulder. I enjoy it, it's fun, I can do it, pick (the ball) with the eyes and stay athletic. I just like it.”

Does it help with his defense in the outfield?

“I think just taking ground balls, being agile, being able to track them and move your feet is something always beneficial as being an athlete.”