long climb

Drafted in the 50th round — the last round of the MLB draft — in 2006, Jarrod Dyson faced some long odds in getting to the big leagues. Consider them conquered. Dyson, a McComb native who played at Southwest Mississippi Community College, made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night as a pinch hitter. He drew a walk and scored a run in a 10-3 loss to Minnesota. Tonight, he pinch ran, this time in the ninth inning against the Twins. His best tool is speed — 131 minor league steals in 162 attempts — and he showed it by swiping second. He was stranded there as the tying run when the game ended. KC lost 4-3. Dyson, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound outfielder, moved through four levels of the minors to reach The Show this season. He hit .272 with 13 steals at Triple-A Omaha. The Royals figure to give him a long look.