Post Gazette · Apr 18, 2018
The Pirates are using John Jaso as a lesson for Corey Dickerson
The Pirates are drawing from experience with John Jaso when determining Corey Dickerson’s playing time.
In 2015, the year before Jaso joined the Pirates and the first year he stopped catching, he started only 16 games in the field in an injury-shortened season for the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent the rest of his time as the designated hitter. With the Pirates the next two seasons, Jaso started 263 games. Ninety-two of them came in the outfield in 2017 because of injuries, compared to first base the year before, and Jaso performed worse offensively.
Dickerson served as the designated hitter in 55 games last year with the Rays. He played 93 games in the outfield.