Dodgers Bringing Up Speedy Outfielder From Triple-A: Source

A standout in college at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University, Dean married his superlative speed with a knack for getting on base with the Dodgers' top farm team.

In 80 games with Oklahoma City, he slashed .279/.376/.434 with 25 stolen bases in 32 attempts.

Dean, 28, is listed at 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds. What he lacks in height, he makes up for with speed. In eight minor league seasons, he's stolen 237 bases in 291 attempts.

Dean has made 57 of his 72 starts for the Comets in center field; the rest have come in right field.

It's unclear whether Dean, who is not on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, is being promoted to replace an injured player, or to serve as insurance in case another player is determined to need an IL stint in the days to come. The Dodgers are off Thursday before hosting the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

In Wednesday's loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Dodgers left fielder Alex Call crashed into the wall in the first inning robbing Brendan Donovan of a possible extra-base hit. Donovan was the first batter of the game, and Call played nine innings in the field, so Dean's arrival might be unrelated.

Dean likely helped his own cause by kicking off August with a four-game hitting streak. Tuesday in El Paso, he hit a home run and a double as part of a 2-for-5 performance for Oklahoma City.

Dean split the 2022-24 seasons between Atlanta's Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi affiliates. While the time in Gwinnett allowed Dean to play about two hours from his home town of Mauldin, South Carolina, it did not afford him the chance to get called up to Atlanta.

Dean appeared in 14 spring training games with the Braves each of the last two years. In his first Cactus League experience with the Dodgers, Dean slashed .250/.500/.333 in 18 plate appearances.