RHP
Born: Oct. 29, '74.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Opening Day Age: 22
Birthplace: Nashville, TN
Resides: Nashville, TN
After being the 18th player selected overall in the 1996 draft, doctors discovered that Dickey was born without a ligament in his elbow, leading to questions about his ability to pitch. The University of Tennessee product missed most of the '97 season due to bone chips in his elbow that required surgery. Back healthy in '98 and featuring a forkball that produced less wear on his elbow, Dickey moved to the closer role and finished second in the minors with 38 saves. After posting a 3.30 ERA in the regular season, the 24-year-old also contributed three scoreless innings in the FSL playoffs.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander has lost velocity since college, from the mid-90 mph range to the upper-80's, but has compensated by becoming a more complete pitcher.
Contract Status: Signed through 1997
How Acquired: Selected in June '96 free agent draft (1st round, regular phase)
Amateur Background: Had a 39-6 record in 3 years at Tennessee, the most career wins in school history...In 1995, was 14-4, 4.28 in 25 games/22 starts...Led the Volunteers in wins, starts, innings (159.2), and strikeouts (121)...Was a Smith Super Team 1st team all-American and a 3rd team all-American by Mizuno/Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America...Was MVP of the NCAA Mideast Regional...Was an Academic all-Southeastern Conference choice...Played for Team USA during the summer, going 3-1, 1.94...Was 15-2, 3.00 in 21 games/20 starts in 1994, leading the NCAA in victories while setting a school record in that category...Was named to 1st team all-American Teams by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball...Was a consensus National Freshman of the Year and a 1st team all-SEC...Went 8-0 in SEC play...Pitched for USA National Team in the summer and was 5-2, 2.89.
Played baseball, basketball, and football at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville (TN) (graduated '93)...As a senior was 15-3 with a 0.46 era and 218 strikeouts in 118 innings...Was selected as the USA Today Player of the Year and the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year in Tennessee...Was also honored as the Tennessee Sports Writers Player of the Year and was Mr. Baseball in the state..Led school to state title and was a member of the USA Today/Baseball Weekly National High School All-Star team and a Baseball America 2nd team all-American...Also hit .420 at shortstop...Was 12-3, 1.28 as a junior...Also was a 2-time all-metro selction in football and an all-district pick in basketball...His Babe Ruth League team won national title in 1991...Was selected by Detroit in the 10th round of the June, 1993 draft but did not sign.
Personal: Hobbies: golf and reading...Sports heroes are Bob Gibson and Larry Bird...Majored in English at Tennessee...Single.
Texas: Was the 1st of the Rangers' 2 1st round selections in the June, 1996 free agent draft, the 18th player in the nation picked...Signed a 1997 contract with the Rangers organization on Aug. 21, 1996...Prior to joining the organization underwent an extensive physical examination and MRI which revealed no existence of a normal ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow...Was examined by both Rangers orthopedic consultant Dr John Conway and Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine Clinic.
Pitched for the Rangers in the Florida Instructional League last fall.
1996: As a junior at the University of Tennessee, was 9-4 with a 2.76 era in 27 games/12 starts...Had 137 strikeouts in 127 innings and was 8th in the nation in strikeouts...Was a Baseball America 3rd team all-American selection and earned all-Southeastern Conference honors...Was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, going 7-0 with a 3.35 era in 10 games/8 starts during the pre-Olympic tour and in the Olympics...Finished 2nd on the staff in wins and ranked 3rd in innings (51) and strikeouts (45-tied)...Won both of his starts in the Olympic Games in Atlanta, defeating Italy, 15-3 on July 24 (5 ip, 6 h, 3 r-er, 2 bb, 3 so) and The Netherlands, 17-1 on July 30 (7 ip, 3 h, 1 r-er, 1 bb, 9 so, cg).
Professional Career: Played in the Hawaiian Winter League in 1997...