Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Dickerson watched with joy as his family became three, the clock striking 1:47 p.m. on Sunday as Levi Ross was born.
He looked up, taking his eyes off his wife and first child for a moment at La Jolla Hospital in San Diego, and watched the Giants celebrate, too.
“Literally the second that he came out, [Chadwick Tromp] hit a home run, so that was pretty cool,” said Dickerson, who was happy the hospital was ready for him. “TV, sound and everything.”
Speaking with media for the first time as a new father, Dickerson was upbeat, even with a sore elbow that had been drilled a night prior. He watched as his wife, Jennifer, endured a bizarre nine months of pregnancy that took some difficult turns in the last couple weeks for a family that could have used a break.
The pandemic took hold about month three of the pregnancy, Dickerson returning home to Southern California rather than embarking on a baseball season. He had to say goodbye around month seven to take part in this abbreviated season, Jennifer’s mother fortunately around to help her.
She had gone on bedrest as the birth neared, which was followed by Dickerson testing positive for COVID-19 in what is believed to have been a false positive. But before that was sorted out, a USA Today story suggested he had broken protocols, and the family was met with all kinds of attention it did not want or deserve.
He had been emotional in detailing the toll it took on his family, which is now home from the hospital and healthy.
“We’re going to have to make a scrapbook for him,” Dickerson said over Zoom. “It’s definitely one of the more eventful … especially just the last week, but the entire pregnancy, what it took to get him here, it was a lot. We’ll make a scrapbook at some point and be able to explain to him the craziness that went on these entire last nine months.”
He acknowledged he made “a lot of headlines,” which then added plenty of interest to the Dickerson clan.
“A lot more people were watching and excited for his birth than I anticipated,” Dickerson said. “And I’m very thankful for all the congratulations I’ve gotten.”
Congrats to the Dickerson’s who welcomed in baby boy Levi Ross yesterday. More to come in our broadcast. Alex back with the team tonight. #SFGiants . pic.twitter.com/0zKAIsFdF8
— Amy Gutierrez (@AmyGGiants) September 21, 2020
He missed just two games, leaving after Friday’s contest and making it back in time to be in Monday’s lineup — and finish a triple shy of the cycle. He said he had slept at home, rather than the uncomfortable hospital couch, one night over the weekend because he was conscious of making sure he would return ready.
He had pulled it all off, becoming a father and returning successfully, until Monday’s ninth inning, when he was plunked on his right elbow and in obvious discomfort, X-rays coming back negative.
“Feeling a lot better today. It was really, really sore and tight last night. Today it’s more just sore,” said Dickerson, who is not in Tuesday’s lineup against the Rockies at Oracle Park but said he’s available. “Little bit of a range issue, but treatment’s going really well already.”
It’s one more hurdle, but one that has to feel like an afterthought. He said he’s “extremely” excited for the offseason, when he can hold his son for more than day.
“I think I realized the weight’s off my shoulders on the flight back,” said the 30-year-old. “Just how good I felt.”