Today we look at Luke Dickerson, and why the Nationals made him the most expensive second round pick of all time
The Washington Nationals draft plan revolved around one player, and it was not their top 10 pick Seaver King. Second round pick Luke Dickerson was the player the Nats planned their draft around. They passed on more highly regarded prospects with their 10th pick so they could have the money to sign Dickerson.
The Nationals gave Dickerson a $3.8 million bonus, making him the most expensive second round pick in the history of the MLB draft. Going off of slot values, the Nats paid Dickerson like the 22nd pick in the draft. Obviously, this means big things are expected of the New Jersey native who tied Mike Trout’s single season home run record in the state.
However, Dickerson is going to be a slow burn. He was a multi-sport athlete, showing up late for baseball season while he helped his high school team win the state championship in hockey. This makes him a bit less polished than some players, who have been baseball only athletes for years. However, it also gives him more untapped potential.
Once he got on the field, his draft stock went through the roof. He went from a relative unknown to the fastest riser in the draft. The Nationals clearly believe they can mold him from a raw athlete into a star player.
Athleticism is Dickerson’s stand out trait at the moment. He is a plus runner, who also has plus raw power. That is a rare combination, especially when combined with his relatively advanced feel to hit. There are still some unknowns with Dickerson given his lack of experience, but he has a lot of promise.
His strong build reminds some of fellow New Jersey prep product Mike Trout. Dickerson still has a long way to go before he can even be half of what Mike Trout was, but it is an interesting tidbit.
Right now, Dickerson is a shortstop, but many scouts wonder if second base, or even center field could be his future defensive home, due to an average throwing arm. Right now, Dickerson is a box full of tools, but the tools need to be refined.
Dickerson should spend his 2025 season in Low-A Fredericksburg, before gradually moving his way up the levels. This is the first time he has been a full time baseball player, so the Nats should take it slowly. There might be some slumps along the way in 2025, but it is important to remember that Dickerson is a long term project. However, with his tools, there is also a chance that Luke Dickerson could be the talk of the prospect world within the next 18 months.