Austin Dean

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #27 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Marlins drafted Dean, a Texas high school infielder, with their fourth-round pick in 2012 and then watched his slow ascent through the minors finally pay off with his major league debut this past August. After advancing one level per year until 2016, Dean stalled in Double-A for two years and opened 2018 there, as well. A hot start pushed him to Triple-A, where he played 87 games before spending the final month and a half of the major league season in Miami.
  
  Scouting Report: Typically limited to left field because of his fringe-average foot speed and average arm strength, Dean has improved enough defensively to the point that he should be considered an average defensive left fielder for now. After two stagnant years in Double-A, Dean had a breakout season in 2018, showcasing a mature approach and consistent contact at both Double-A and Triple-A. Dean has the strength and bat speed to produce plus raw power, and he hit a career-high 16 home runs in 2018.
  
  The Future: Dean will enter spring training with a chance to earn the Marlins' everyday left field job. If he doesn't win the competition, he could continue serving as a bench bat for the Marlins.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #8 prospect in 2017
  Dean played first and second base at Klein Collins High, but the Marlins drafted him as an outfielder because of his slow footwork and because they believed his raw power would profile in left field. He turned down a chance to play at Texas with prep teammate C.J. Hinojosa (now with the Giants) when he signed for $367,200 as a 2012 fourth-round pick. Dean has a feel for the barrel, so the Marlins believed the raw power he shows in batting practice would play in games once he got out of the power-suppressing Florida State League. He hit a career-high 11 homers at Double-A Jacksonville in 2016 but appeared to sell out for the improved power production, striking out a career-worst 110 times. Pitchers got wise to Dean's approach, or lack thereof, in the second half, when he hit .212/.262/.320 with just three homers. He has average to a tick above-average speed but attempted just three steals in 2016 after swiping 18 of 28 in 2015. He's an average outfield defender with a below-average arm, limiting him to left field. Dean still has time to develop, but as a left fielder, he's going to have to get to his power more often. The Marlins have a young, talented big league outfield, so they didn't shield Dean from the Rule 5 draft. He will be ticketed for Triple-A New Orleans in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2016
  An infielder at Klein Collins High who played first and second base, Dean immediately moved to left field upon being drafted by the Marlins in 2012 because of his footwork and lack of arm strength. He was expected to join prep teammate C.J. Hinojosa at Texas, but he turned pro instead when Miami offered $367,200. Dean has totaled just 19 homers in 1,303 minor league at-bats, but the Marlins still believe in the development of his raw power. He has shown a feel to hit with a knack for barreling the ball and has a swing geared for line drives. The righthanded batter tied for second in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League with 32 doubles and ranked fourth with 139 hits at high Class A Jupiter. Dean has average to tick above speed but needs to be more efficient in his stolen-base attempts. An average defender in left field who also has played a lot in right, he has a below-average arm that opponents challenge frequently. He tied for second in the FSL with 15 outfield assists. Dean hasn't shown the power to fit the first-division corner-outfield profile. He has shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate and good contact ability, however, so the Marlins are banking on more power developing. Expect him to head to Double-A Jacksonville in 2016.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2015
  An infielder in high school, Dean has logged no professional innings on the dirt. The Marlins immediately moved the 2012 fourth-rounder to left field, where he projects as an everyday player with power. Dean has totaled just 14 homers in 784 minor league at-bats, but the Marlins expect the power to continue developing. He hit a career-best .308 in 99 games at low Class A Greensboro in 2014, building on his solid debut at short-season Batavia in 2013. An aggressive, hard-nosed player, Dean does just about everything well offensively. His best attribute is outstanding bat speed. He lowered his strikeout rate from 20 percent in 2013 to 16 percent in 2014. What he lacks is a plus throwing arm, which may not be as much of an issue if Dean ultimately moves back to first base from left field. Dean probably doesn't have sufficient foot speed to man center field, but he has recorded average run times from home to first.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #14 prospect in 2014
  An infielder in high school, Dean moved to the outfield upon signing for $367,200 as a fourth-rounder in 2012. The Marlins played it conservative with him in 2013, holding him back in extended spring until short-season Batavia's season began in June. Dean swings one of the quickest bats in the organization and the ball comes off the barrel hard. Because his stance is fairly upright, he gets to balls up easier than pitches down in the zone, the latter of which can give him trouble. Dean has good bat control and is more of a line-drive hitter than a power threat, though he could develop 15-20 home run power. He's aggressive and likes to jump on the first pitch. An average runner, he was gunned out on his only two stolen base attempts in 2013 but moves well enough underway that he legged out seven triples, tops in the New York-Penn League. Dean's speed plays well enough on a corner, where his range is average. His arm is a tick-below-average but could improve with better technique, a factor of his inexperience in the outfield. He'll return to low Class A Greensboro, where he spent the final week of the 2013 campaign.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #19 prospect in 2013
  An infielder at perennial Houston-area power Klein Collins High, Dean moved to the outfield after signing as a fourth-round pick last June for $367,200. Though Dean hit just .223/.337/.338 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, the Marlins raved about the adjustments he made both during the summer and in fall minicamp. His bat speed compares with anyone's in the system, and the ball makes a nice sound coming off his bat. He wants to pull the ball too much, even on outside pitches that he should take the other way, and needs to learn to let the ball travel a little deeper and trust his quick hands. He also needs to narrow his strike zone. He made mechanical adjustments to his lower half to improve his balance, which should allow him to tap into his above-average raw power. Dean is an average runner with enough athleticism to handle left or right field. He saw time in center but profiles better on a corner. His arm is average. Dean's spring showing will determine whether he jumps to low Class A or waits for a short-season assignment in June.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #219 prospect in 2012 draft
  Klein Collins had legitimate state- and national-title aspirations until shortstop C.J. Hinojosa and lefthander Cody Geisler succumbed to shoulder injuries. The only Tigers star who stayed healthy was Dean, who moved from first base to second after Hinojosa went down. One of the top high school hitters in Texas, Dean makes consistent hard contact from the right side of the plate. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has the swing and bat speed to hit for both average and power. He has some athleticism and close to average speed, but a lack of arm strength and footwork limits him defensively and knocks him down draft boards a bit. Dean could get a chance at second base, though left field could be his ultimate destination. Like Hinojosa, he's expected to attend Texas rather than turn pro.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Dean played first and second base at Klein Collins High, but the Marlins drafted him as an outfielder because of his slow footwork and because they believed his raw power would profile in left field. He turned down a chance to play at Texas with prep teammate C.J. Hinojosa (now with the Giants) when he signed for $367,200 as a 2012 fourth-round pick. Scouting Report: Dean has a feel for the barrel, so the Marlins believed the raw power he shows in batting practice would play in games once he got out of the power-suppressing Florida State League. He hit a career-high 11 homers at Double-A Jacksonville in 2016 but appeared to sell out for the improved power production, striking out a career-worst 110 times. Pitchers got wise to Dean's approach, or lack thereof, in the second half, when he hit .212/.262/.320 with just three homers. He has average to a tick above-average speed but attempted just three steals in 2016 after swiping 18 of 28 in 2015. He's an average outfield defender with a below-average arm, limiting him to left field.
  
  The Future: Dean still has time to develop, but as a left fielder, he's going to have to get to his power more often. The Marlins have a young, talented big league outfield, so they didn't shield Dean from the Rule 5 draft. He will be ticketed for Triple-A New Orleans in 2017.