“I started yesterday’s game (in Indianapolis) and popped up to first kind of in foul territory,” Dixon said, “and then I finished the inning at third base playing in the field.”
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After the first inning, Bats manager Dick Schofield approached Dixon.
“Hey, you’ve got to run that ball out,” Schofield told him.
“OK, I thought it was a foul ball,” Dixon said.
“No, you’ve got somewhere else to be,” Schofield said. “You’re going to Cincinnati.”
Dixon’s teammates hugged him. He described it as an awesome moment. Then he relayed the news to his parents on Facetime.
“They kind of broke down,” Dixon said. “It was a cool moment to have with them.”
Dixon was a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. The Reds acquired him in December 2015 in a three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox and also brought Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler to the Reds.
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Dixon worked his way up the ladder in the Reds’ system since the trade, playing for Double-A Pensacola in 2016 and for Louisville last season. This season, he leads the Bats in most offensive categories: average (.326), home runs (four), doubles (12) RBIs (14) and stolen bases (8).
“The first part of the season in Louisville, I was doing all right,” Dixon said. “Then I found my swing, and things started clicking again. The last month or so, it’s been going well.”
Dixon replaced infielder/outfielder Rosell Herrera, who was sent to Louisville, on the roster. Herrera appeared in 11 games and was 2-for-13.
Dixon said he’s most comfortable in left field or at second base or first base. He knows he’ll be a reserve.
“I think that’s expected when you come up,” Dixon said. “I feel I fit that mold right now. I can play a lot of positions and come in off the bench. Whatever they need, I’m excited to do.”
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