After spending the past seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves minor league system, Justin Dean got his first taste of Major League Baseball with the Dodgers in 2025, primarily serving as a late-game defensive replacement.
Dean spent the majority of the 2024 season with the Double-A Mississippi Braves while also spending 25 games with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he slashed a modest .247/.338/.321 with just three home runs and 38 RBI over 92 combined games. His main asset was his speed, as he totaled 61 stolen bases on 69 attempts. After electing free agency following the 2024 season, he inked a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Dec. 13, and began the year with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
Before making his big league debut, Dean played in 81 games for the Comets, where he had a much improved slash line of .274/.370/.426 with six home runs and 31 RBI, while also swiping 25 bags. After nearly eight full years waiting to get his shot, his opportunity came on Aug. 8, as he was promoted to the Dodgers big league squad while outfielder Esteury Ruiz was demoted to Triple-A.
Dean didn’t get much playing time in his 18 big league games, mainly serving as a late game defensive replacement in center field which allowed Andy Pages to slide to right field in lieu of Teoscar Hernández. He only received two big league at-bats where he went hitless, but also recorded a lone stolen base on the year. He was sent back down to Triple-A on Sept. 10 and played in nine more games in the minor leagues, but with Michael Conforto left off the postseason roster, Dean took his place.
Dean’s role didn’t change come the postseason, but he was a part of most of the Dodgers games in October, only missing four of the seven World Series games. On the stat sheet, he was just a footnote to the Dodgers’ success, but his most crucial moment came in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series, where he immediately alerted the umpires that a ball off the bat of Addison Barger was wedged under the center field padding. That quick thinking proved extremely pivotal, as Tyler Glasnow needed just three pitches to force a Game 7.
Dean was demoted back down to Triple-A on Nov. 6 and was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants the same day.
Dean didn’t register an at-bat in Game 6 of the World Series, but his quick thinking and alertness ultimately saved the Dodgers season for another day, and they eventually capitalized on that opportunity to bring home their second straight championship.
Justin Dean is on the San Francisco Giants 40-man roster.