CLEVELAND — There were a few choice words people were calling Corey Dickerson last year as he struggled with myriad adjustments after his trade from Colorado while getting used to playing for the Rays, at sea level, against American League East pitching and in the DH role.
But with a season's experience and an offseason of exercise and diet that shaved 25 pounds off his frame, there are a couple other things you can call Dickerson through the first quarter of this season.
Like their best, and most consistent, player.
And their leading candidate for the AL All-Star team.
Dickerson was the driving force behind Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Indians, launching two of the five home runs the Rays hit in building a 6-1 lead then hanging on thanks especially to two innings of dazzling work by rookie lefty Jose Alvarado in relief of Jake Odorizzi.
"I feel like I'm getting back to my old self and making a name for myself being Corey Dickerson, not trying to be somebody else," Dickerson said. "I feel like I changed a lot last year. I was coming off an injury (-shortened 2015) season and felt like I didn't have to make up at-bats, but I probably really did. Being honest with myself, I took it to heart this offseason to just be myself no matter what, have fun and make sure I compete the way I compete."
Colby Rasmus (his fourth), Derek Norris (third) and Tim Beckham (seventh) also went deep for the Rays, who with the odd combination of five home runs and 16 strikeouts improved to 20-22 with a chance for a second straight road series win in today's matinee finale.
But Dickerson had the biggest blast, his second homer, which was his eighth of the season, hitting the tall trees beyond the centerfield fence, measured — seemingly on the short side — by StatCast at 449 feet.
"He's having a lot of good at-bats right now and he's not missing too many pitches," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "That ball he hit to center, that's one of the farthest I've seen hit here spending two years here (as a coach)."
What has made Dickerson's season such a success isn't just the home runs, but the consistency of quality at-bats and his increased frequency of using the entire field.
"Hitting to all fields has probably been as important as anything," Cash said. "The quality of at-bats and the way he's adjusted in games and in the middle of at-bats, and staying on tough pitches that maybe we didn't see him do last year."
As proof, consider that Dickerson went into play Tuesday tied for the American League lead with 49 hits (with New York's Starlin Castro) and with 16 multi-hit games (Castro and Toronto's Kevin Pillar), one off the major-league lead in both categories.
And that he ranked among the AL top six in average, .341; doubles, 12; extra-base hits, 20; total bases, 83; and slugging percentage, .561.
Adding to his impressive resume, Dickerson has done most of his work batting leadoff, somewhat of an unorthodox spot; has hit very well when facing lefties (.378); and has played well when given the opportunity in leftfield.
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Explore all your optionsConfidence is another big element for Dickerson, and that, too, grew from last season.
"I know the guys behind me want me up there; that's where I feel the confidence coming from, from my teammates," he said. "I feel like last year maybe guys, when I was struggling, didn't want me up there."
Even in his down 2016, Dickerson hit .245 with 24 homers and 70 RBIs.
With the adjustments to his approach, improvements to his game and increase in his confidence, plus the maturity to stay consistent, the targets are higher.
"We were all confident the end of last year … we had a pretty good player, a pretty good hitter on our side," Cash said.
And, almost every day, that's what they've been getting.
Marc Topkin can be reached at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.