MLB: 5 breakout stars who deserve more recognition

Corey Dickerson

Let’s give a Tampa Bay Ray some love. Rays outfielder Corey Dickerson has caught the league by surprise. He’s been the standout member of the Tampa Bay squad in 2017, and we could go a step further and crown him a standout member in MLB.

Corey Dickerson is near the top of the American League charts in nearly every offensive category. He ranks third in the AL with a .326 batting average, fourth in slugging percentage (.583), sixth in OPS (.948), fourth in triples (3) and first in hits (94). Dickerson has been on cruise control since the start of the year, cruising at a high rate of speed.

In a strikeout league, Dickerson has found his success through contact. His BABIP is .370 and his strikeout percentage is down from each of his previous MLB seasons. He even joined the unique group of players to have earned a base hit by hitting the ball off a bounce as it crossed the plate. Dickerson did so last month against the Texas Rangers.

The 28-year-old has finally blossomed. His success came to fruition after no significant delay, but enough of a delay for the Colorado Rockies to somewhat frivolously give him away. Colorado traded Dickerson to the Rays in the 2015-2016 offseason. In return, the Rockies acquired a veteran reliever in Jake McGee and a prospect arm in German Marquez.

It’s tough to say the Rockies feel any regret as they are currently on cloud nine. Plus, German Marquez has proved to be a nice piece in the Rockies’ rotation in 2017. Nevertheless, they’re missing out on an outstanding year from their former farm talent. Who knows what Dickerson’s 2017 success would have translated to at Coors Field? Then again, maybe something clicked for him in his move to Tampa Bay. One thing is for sure, Dickerson is the real deal and the Tampa Bay Rays have benefited greatly from his leadoff presence this season.