Marlins promote hot-hitting Dean from Minors

ATLANTA -- The message Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter gave to all Minor Leaguers in Spring Training was that everyone would be starting off with a clean slate. All players, regardless of which round they were drafted in, would get a chance to prove themselves, and those who performed would be rewarded.
Clearly, Austin Dean took that message to heart. The 24-year-old outfielder posted eye-opening numbers at Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans this season, and the Marlins selected his contract on Wednesday.
"Derek talked about it in the spring, 'If you perform, you're going to have a chance to get here,'" Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "That's really what he's done. I'm looking forward to seeing him get an opportunity and seeing him play. A lot of people think he has a chance to hit here."
The Marlins optioned utility player Christopher Bostick to Triple-A to open a roster spot for Dean.
"I think the organization itself is doing a good job of promoting the young guys who are doing well that deserve to show that they can play competitive baseball," Dean said.

Dean played 649 games in the Minor Leagues before making his Major League debut, which came Wednesday as he started in left field in the series finale against the Braves at SunTrust Park. He went 0-for-3 batting sixth in the lineup in the 5-2 loss.
Dean, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Marlins' No. 28 prospect, is expected to get a chance to play either right or left field.
Dean put up strong numbers all season, hitting a combined .345/.410/.511 with 12 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .922 OPS between Jacksonville and New Orleans.
"He's had a tremendous season," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. "Like I've said, it's always nice when players put themselves on the radar. With Austin this year, he's definitely opened a lot of eyes."
A fourth-round Draft pick in 2012, Dean opened the season at Jacksonville, where he batted .420 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 22 games. He was promoted to New Orleans on April 29, where he hit .326 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs in 87 games.
"When I got called up to Triple-A, it was my second time getting promoted during the season," Dean said. "It was good to get that, knowing that my hard work has paid off. Obviously, getting promoted here has been the biggest accomplishment."

Dean's arrival means rookie Brian Anderson, who has played mostly right field, will move back to third base. The Marlins plan on using Anderson both in right field and third base the rest of the season. Dean's best position is left field.
The Marlins created a 40-man roster space for Dean on Tuesday night after their 10-6 loss to the Braves, when they traded right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne to the Angels for cash considerations.
Dean had been a candidate for a September callup, but with the injuries to Miguel Rojas (left ankle contusion) and Martín Prado (on the disabled list with a left quad strain), the Marlins decided to make the roster move now. At some point before November, Miami would have had to make a decision to put Dean on their 40-man roster or risk losing him in the Rule 5 Draft.
"Obviously, we've been following him throughout his career in our system, and he's taken a big step forward this year," Hill said. "He mastered Double-A and we got him to Triple-A. We wanted to see how he would respond to the challenge of Triple-A. He's continued the same quality at-bats. Suffice to say, given our injury situation, we've definitely talked about him and how he might possibly fit."

Worth noting
• The Marlins are optimistic Rojas will avoid a DL stint. Rojas jammed his ankle in Game 2 of Monday's split doubleheader. He said the ankle is feeling better, and with a scheduled off-day on Thursday, Rojas may be ready to return to the lineup on Friday at Washington. If he has a setback, the DL may be an option, and the club would then have to call up an infielder.
• Kyle Barraclough (lower back tightness) threw 20 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday afternoon. The right-hander physically feels fine, but he is still polishing up his command facing batters. Barraclough will travel with the club to Washington, and he may face hitters again as early as Saturday.