CINCINNATI — Clint Hurdle made a promise to Corey Dickerson before he ever saw the former All-Star play an inning in left field for the Pirates. As the two men chatted shortly after Dickerson was acquired in late February, Hurdle told his new outfielder he wouldn't double-switch him out late in games.
Hurdle paid no attention to people in the industry who labeled Dickerson a below-average defender. Instead, he trusted the scouting report from his front office, and Dickerson's exhaustive six-day-a-week workouts over the previous offseason. That show of faith altered the course of the Pirates' season, which will end with an above-.500 record after their 8-4 win over the Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park. With the cancellation of the season finale, their 81-78 record clinched only their fourth winning season in 26 years.
Dickerson emerged as one of the top defenders among National League left fielders while making a career-high 121 starts at the position. That rejuvenation began nearly one year ago with a mission and a thorough plan to rewrite a narrative that's followed him since his big league debut in 2013.
"People that don’t see me every day would say I'm below average," Dickerson, who went 2 for 5 with an RBI double, told DKPittsburghSports.com. "I cover a decent amount of ground and make all the routine plays. I think they expected Kevin Kiermaier or Starling Marte — like every left fielder should be that type of fielder. I think my arm strength has always contributed to people labeling me a completely not good outfielder."
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