Jarrod Dyson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jarrod Dyson |
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Dyson with the Kansas City Royals in 2012
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 15, 1984 McComb, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 2010, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2021, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .244 | ||
| Home runs | 21 | ||
| Runs batted in | 185 | ||
| Stolen bases | 266 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jarrod Martel Dyson (born August 15, 1984) is an American former professional baseball player. He was known for being a very fast center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Dyson was chosen by the Royals in the 2006 MLB draft. He made his big league debut on September 7, 2010.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Jarrod Dyson grew up in McComb, Mississippi. He went to McComb High School. There, he was a star in both baseball and football. He played as a running back in football. Even though he was good, many scouts didn't notice him because he was not very big.
After high school, Dyson went to Southwest Mississippi Community College. He was a great player there. He tied a school record with seven triples in one season. He also set a new record by scoring 47 runs.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Kansas City Royals picked Jarrod Dyson in the 50th round of the 2006 draft. He was the 1,475th player chosen overall. He signed with the team for $5,000. Dyson started his professional career that same year. He played for the AZL Royals. He hit .273 and stole 19 bases in 51 games.
He continued to play in the minor leagues for a few years. He was known for his amazing speed. In 2008, he stole 39 bases for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 2009, he stole 46 bases across two teams. By 2010, he was hitting .299 with 24 stolen bases in 71 minor league games.
Playing for the Kansas City Royals
First MLB Call-Up (2010-2011)
Dyson was first called up to the major leagues in September 2010. He joined the Royals and played in center field. He played 18 games and stole nine bases. He was so fast that he became a special player for the team. He was often used as a pinch runner. This means he would run for another player who got on base.
In 2011, Dyson spent most of the season in Triple-A. When he was in the Major Leagues, he often came into games late. He would pinch run for slower players like Billy Butler. He stole 11 bases that year.
More Playing Time (2012-2014)
In 2012, Dyson got to play a lot more. The Royals' main center fielder, Lorenzo Cain, was injured. This gave Dyson a chance to show what he could do. He played in 102 games. He hit .260 and stole 30 bases. His speed was a big help to the team.
In 2013, Dyson set a new personal best. He stole 34 bases that season. He also hit .258. In 2014, he was still incredibly fast. He led all major league players in stolen bases during spring training with 10. He wasn't caught even once! During the regular season, he stole 36 bases. He often came into games late to play defense or run the bases. He played in 120 games, which was his most ever at the time. He also had his best batting average (.269) and RBIs (24) up to that point.
World Series Champion (2015)
The 2015 season was very special for Jarrod Dyson and the Royals. He signed a contract for $1.225 million that year. He was expected to be the team's fourth outfielder. He hit .250 during the season.
Dyson played a huge part in the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets. The Royals were leading the series 3 games to 1. In Game 5, the score was tied 2-2 in the 12th inning. Salvador Pérez got a hit. Dyson came in to pinch run for him. He quickly stole second base. Then, he moved to third base on a ground out. Finally, Christian Colón hit a single. Dyson used his speed to run home and score the winning run! The Royals scored five runs in that inning. They won the game 7-2 and became the 2015 World Series Champions.
Final Season with Royals (2016)
In 2016, Dyson played in 107 games. He hit his first career grand slam against the Cleveland Indians. He had 83 hits, including 14 doubles and 8 triples. These were his highest totals for doubles and triples in a single year. He hit .278 and stole 30 bases.
Moving to Other Teams
Seattle Mariners (2017)
On January 6, 2017, Dyson was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He played in 111 games for them. He stole 28 bases, hit 5 home runs, and had 30 RBIs. His season ended early in September because he needed surgery.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2018-2019)
In 2018, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Dyson to a two-year contract. His first season with them was tough. He had to miss time due to injuries. He hit a career-low .189 in 67 games. In 2019, he played more, hitting .230 in 400 times at bat.
Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox (2020)
Dyson signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in February 2020. Later that year, in August, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. Between both teams in 2020, he hit .180.
Return to Royals and Blue Jays (2021)
In March 2021, Dyson signed again with the Kansas City Royals. He played in 77 games for them, hitting .221 with 8 stolen bases. On August 27, 2021, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him. He played 25 games for Toronto and stole two bases. After the 2021 season, Dyson became a free agent.
Personal Life
Jarrod Dyson grew up with three older brothers, one younger brother, and a younger sister. His mother, Cecilia, raised them. When he was young, his family lived in public housing until he was eight years old. In January 2016, his hometown of McComb, Mississippi, honored him. They renamed one of their streets "Dyson Drive" to celebrate his achievements.
