Follow the Prospects: Luke Dickerson, SS

[imref]

DOB: 8/9/2005
5'11", 197lbs
T/B: R/R
Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft (44th) out of Morris Knolls NJ (High School).

Signed for a record $3.8 million (highest for a non-1st round or compensation pick). Had been committed to UVA.

Famous for tying Mike Trout's home run school record.

https://www.milb.com/player/luke-dickerson-815380

MLB.com scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Multi-sport standouts in high school can come in all shapes and sizes … and sports. Most prospects come from the football-baseball combination. Sometimes athletes will come from the basketball court to the diamond, but Dickerson pulls off a rarely-seen trifecta. The New Jersey star was late to baseball this spring because he was busy helping his Morris Knolls High School win a state championship in hockey. He didn’t create much buzz early as a result, but he was more than making up for it with some serious helium as the season went on, positioning himself as perhaps the best prep bat in the Northeast.

A strong and athletic right-handed hitter and middle infielder, Dickerson has some exciting offensive traits. Some have seen a very good feel for the barrel and an all-fields approach that focuses on the center of the diamond. Others feel his swing is more strength-based than bat speed, but he has a short and simple swing that he repeats easily and has shown the ability to adjust to make plenty of contact. Anyone who has seen him feels there’s plenty of power for him to tap into, some of which was showing up more this spring.

With a compact and strong build that reminds some of fellow Garden State product Mike Trout, Dickerson is a plus runner with some 6.3-60 times to his credit. He has good hands and easy actions, so he could start his career at short, though some feel his arm is a touch short for the premium position. He should be able to stay up the middle, with a move to second or center field distinct possibilities. He was moving up into top few rounds conversations, with teams knowing they’ll have to sign him away from his commitment to Virginia.

[imref]

Currently assigned to the FCL.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He's a variation on drafting a guy who can pitch as well as hit. If he can't play SS for the Nats, then he maybe can play for the Caps.

[imref]

Talknats with an update:

A quick Luke Dickerson (drafted from high school in the 2nd round 2024) update since he's still working in the #Nats facility in West Palm Beach. An exact quote from a source,

"80 worker, innate barrel feel, [he's] made tremendous defensive strides in a short amount of time. One of the guys the staff is the most excited about."

For those who don't understand the reference of "80 worker" -- that is the highest rating on the 20/80 scouting scale. "Innate barrel feel" is someone born with it. They said that about Anthony Rendon.

[imref]

Assigned to the FCL

[zimm_da_kid]

2 games in. 2-8 with 4 rbi and a steal so far. Only 1 k, refreshing after Green. Really excited to see what this kid can do. Split time with hockey and baseball through high school. Big signing bonus and was a helium guy late last draft. Could be a gem, could be a bust. Either way, our brass believes in him and he has a shot to stick at short while hitting for power and swiping bags.

 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I assume the path with him will be, if he does well enough in the FCL, move him to Fredericksburg when mid-season promotions happen and have him finish the year there.

[imref]

first HR at the FCL today. .333 / .929 so far after today's 3-5, 2R, 5RBI day.

[imref]

Promoted to Fredricksburg

[zimm_da_kid]

Promoted to Fredricksburg

Love it

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Love it

gonna need him to be flourish over the next year plus so we can trade CJ before he's a free agent

[imref]

2-3, 2 doubles in his debut, 1-2 in the nightcap. (7 inning games since they had double header today)

[imref]

2-5, R, HR, 4RBI, SB Yesterday. Might not be in Fredricksburg for long but does leapfrog King?

[zoom]

Will he (LD) stay at SS or move to 3rd?

[imref]

Will he (LD) stay at SS or move to 3rd?

3rd might make more sense. Dugas has been awful at Wilmington so I could see Dickerson replacing him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

3rd might make more sense. Dugas has been awful at Wilmington so I could see Dickerson replacing him.

I suspect they won't move one of their top prospects off SS just to plug a hole in A+.

[imref]

I suspect they won't move one of their top prospects off SS just to plug a hole in A+.

They aren't moving King off of SS so one of them will have to move to advance.

[IanRubbish]

2-5, R, HR, 4RBI, SB Yesterday. Might not be in Fredricksburg for long but does leapfrog King?

He's 19, no reason for him to get rushed through the system, but yes, if he keeps it up he should easily jump over King.

[IanRubbish]

Small sample size with 25 PAs, but K rate with the Fred Nats is just 12%.  .842 OPS overall. 

Seems like he was drafted after Seaver King because of King's speed, but we all know what happens when Rizzo gets a man crush for height, speed, arm strength, etc.

[nobleisthyname]

Small sample size with 25 PAs, but K rate with the Fred Nats is just 12%.  .842 OPS overall. 

Seems like he was drafted after Seaver King because of King's speed, but we all know what happens when Rizzo gets a man crush for height, speed, arm strength, etc.

To be fair, Dickerson was drafted for his raw tools, not his on-field performance.

[IanRubbish]

.896 OPS in Fredericksburg after 50 PAs

[zimm_da_kid]

.896 OPS in Fredericksburg after 50 PAs

Promising. He’ll see at least a+ before end of year

[IanRubbish]

couple more walks and a hit tonight - OPS at .877

[DCsOwn]

https://x.com/paulcubbage23/status/1928096589094027336?s=46&t=Q_qc3R_qyMHAAFvlywNqzQ

[IanRubbish]

OBP up to .403