Tweet
I think fangraphs sums up Dean pretty well (from May 2018, https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-...ospects-108/):
Austin Dean, OF, Miami (Profile)
Selected by Miami in the fourth round of the 2012 draft out of a Texas high school, Dean appeared — when Eric Longenhagen published the Marlins list in February of 2017 — to have fallen into a sort of prospect netherspace, possessing too little footspeed and athleticism for center field but too little offensive ability to sustain a corner-outfield role. The Marlins’ assignments appeared to indicate a lack of enthusiasm, as well: after passing all of the 2016 and -17 seasons at Double-A, Dean began the present campaign there, as well.
In this case, however, Dean quickly earned a promotion, producing a strikeout rate and isolated-power mark that still rank second and sixth, respectively, among the 97 total Southern League batters to record at least 80 plate appearances. The early returns at Triple-A have been promising for a player in his first exposure to a new level. In particular, Dean’s contact skills have translated well: among batters with 50 or more plate appearances, Dean’s strikeout and swinging-strike rates place in the 91st and 97th percentile. Meanwhile, he’s produced roughly league-average power numbers. While the offensive burden of a corner-outfield role remains high, Dean could probably survive with slightly less power on contact than most given his bat-to-ball skills.
BA says - fringy LF glove, average speed, fringy arm
- - - - - - - - - -
So this is a poor man's Jeff Conine if he works out? He's going to need to hit .280, walk 8%+, whiff less than 15%, and rack up doubles. I don't see Anderson (or Conine's) power numbers coming unless this is really a major swing tweak and that breakout is coming in a few years.
All about giving him LF for August and September though and maybe lightning strikes. He's earned it.
Austin Dean, OF, Miami (Profile)
Selected by Miami in the fourth round of the 2012 draft out of a Texas high school, Dean appeared — when Eric Longenhagen published the Marlins list in February of 2017 — to have fallen into a sort of prospect netherspace, possessing too little footspeed and athleticism for center field but too little offensive ability to sustain a corner-outfield role. The Marlins’ assignments appeared to indicate a lack of enthusiasm, as well: after passing all of the 2016 and -17 seasons at Double-A, Dean began the present campaign there, as well.
In this case, however, Dean quickly earned a promotion, producing a strikeout rate and isolated-power mark that still rank second and sixth, respectively, among the 97 total Southern League batters to record at least 80 plate appearances. The early returns at Triple-A have been promising for a player in his first exposure to a new level. In particular, Dean’s contact skills have translated well: among batters with 50 or more plate appearances, Dean’s strikeout and swinging-strike rates place in the 91st and 97th percentile. Meanwhile, he’s produced roughly league-average power numbers. While the offensive burden of a corner-outfield role remains high, Dean could probably survive with slightly less power on contact than most given his bat-to-ball skills.
BA says - fringy LF glove, average speed, fringy arm
- - - - - - - - - -
So this is a poor man's Jeff Conine if he works out? He's going to need to hit .280, walk 8%+, whiff less than 15%, and rack up doubles. I don't see Anderson (or Conine's) power numbers coming unless this is really a major swing tweak and that breakout is coming in a few years.
All about giving him LF for August and September though and maybe lightning strikes. He's earned it.
Comment