Dickerson reflects on career after milestone

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

On the day Corey Dickerson reached 10 years of Major League service time, he entered the same ballpark as he did for his big league debut. Only Thursday, he walked toward the other clubhouse.

In a full-circle moment, Dickerson achieved the service time milestone as a member of the Nationals -- the team he played against in his debut with the Rockies on June 22, 2013, at Nationals Park.

“It [shows] just how short time goes and how you have to be in the moment in everything you do,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson, 34, is in his 11th Major League season. He signed a one-year deal with the Nationals, his eighth club, this winter, adding a veteran presence in left field. In front of his locker in the Nats clubhouse, Dickerson reflected on the revered accomplishment.

MLB.com: What are your Day One memories?

Dickerson: “The night before, flying to Washington -- I just remember everything about it -- the taxi drive around the stadium, looking around at it like, ‘I made it,’ that kind of thing. Then just being embraced by all the guys in the locker room.

“Actually, when I made my debut, we had to wear our practice jerseys because they were really struggling, so it didn't even have my name on the back. … To change the mojo up, we wore our Spring Training jerseys. But it didn't even weigh in my mind because I was just so excited.

“The first time I got up to bat, I felt like everybody could see my legs shake. After I got my first hit, Carlos González put his arm around me. I think there's a picture of us or something, we were running out to the field. I think I was playing right that day, actually. He was like, ‘2,999 more and you’ll be a Hall of Famer.’ I was like, ‘I’m just happy to get my first one.’”

MLB.com: What is your standout moment from these past years?

Dickerson: “Probably making the All-Star Game [in 2017 with the Rays], or winning the Gold Glove [in ‘18 with the Pirates] was a big achievement for me. For going through a lot with tearing my shoulder, being labeled a bad defender, learning how to play outfield, finally winning something like that at this level that never can be taken away from you is really special.”

MLB.com: For your 10-year service time anniversary to occur while you are at Nationals Park, where you debuted, what does that mean to you?

Dickerson: “It's a blessing because when I was coming up, I would be around Tulo [Troy Tulowitzki], [Justin] Morneau, Todd Helton. I would be like, ‘There's no way I can play that long.’ And then it's just day by day, day by day. You figure it out and you keep grinding and let your drive and will lead the way and find yourself here.”

MLB.com: How does Nationals Park look different to you today than it did your first game?

Dickerson: “It always throws me off when I walk down this tunnel and walk up because I’m expecting to come out on the third-base side. But I love the stadium, the way it makes you feel. There are some stadiums that are kind of older. Here, it’s a little more modern, it feels like a big league ballpark. It makes your energy level go up. I still enjoy it. It's a great, great place to play.”