The Rays are bringing back a familiar face to round out their 2026 coaching staff, hiring former All-Star Corey Dickerson as their new first base coach. It’s a move that blends nostalgia with baseball savvy - and it just might be the kind of clubhouse addition that pays dividends beyond the baseline.
Dickerson, 36, steps into the role vacated by Michael Johns, who left in early November to become the bench coach for the Nationals. Johns is reuniting with Blake Butera - a longtime friend and former Rays minor-league coach who recently took over as Washington’s manager.
With Johns’ departure, Tampa Bay needed a coach who could handle more than just first base duties. Like his predecessor, Dickerson will also oversee outfield defense and base-running - two areas that have long been points of emphasis in the Rays’ detail-oriented system.
For Dickerson, this marks a return to the franchise where he enjoyed one of the best stretches of his 11-year MLB career. He played for Tampa Bay in 2016 and 2017, earning All-Star honors as a designated hitter in his second season.
Known for his smooth left-handed swing and gap-to-gap power, Dickerson hit .280 over his career with 136 home runs, 469 RBIs, and a strong .799 OPS. He wasn’t just a bat, either - he won a Gold Glove in 2018 with the Pirates, showing he could hold his own defensively as well.
After retiring following the 2023 season, Dickerson stayed close to the game. He spent 2025 coaching at Jackson Academy in Mississippi, returning to his roots and getting hands-on experience in player development. That grassroots work - paired with his big-league resume - makes him an intriguing fit for a Rays organization that values both innovation and experience.
Dickerson becomes the 10th full-time first base coach in franchise history, following a long line of names that includes Billy Hatcher, Jose Cardenal, George Hendrick, Rocco Baldelli, and most recently, Johns. It’s a role that’s evolved over the years, and with Tampa Bay’s emphasis on aggressive base-running and defensive versatility, the job requires more than just waving runners around third.
This hire also finalizes manager Kevin Cash’s coaching staff for the upcoming season. The only other change came on the hitting side, where assistant coach Brady North was replaced by Ozzie Timmons.
Timmons, who previously held the first base coaching job from 2018 to 2021, returned to the organization earlier this year after a stint with the Brewers. He had been working in a special assistant role with Tampa Bay’s minor-league system before being elevated back to the big-league bench.
With Dickerson now in place, the Rays’ staff is set - and it’s a group that blends continuity with fresh perspective. Bringing in a former player like Dickerson, who knows the organization and understands what it takes to compete at the highest level, is the kind of move that fits the Rays’ mold: smart, calculated, and quietly impactful.