Dean William Anna (born November 24, 1986) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Dean Anna
Anna with the Tucson Padres in 2013
Infielder
Born: (1986-11-24) November 24, 1986 (age 37)
Glenwood, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 4, 2014, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
April 23, 2015, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average.130
Home runs1
Runs batted in3
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Career

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Early career

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Dean Anna was born on November 24, 1986, in Glenwood, Illinois. He graduated from Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois.[1] He attended John A. Logan College for two years and then transferred to Ball State University to continue his college baseball career with the Ball State Cardinals.

San Diego Padres

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After his junior year of college, the San Diego Padres selected him in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.[2] On June 15, 2008, Anna signed with his Padres and began his professional career with the AZL Padres. In 43 appearances between the AZL Padres and the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, Anna slashed .232/.341/.351 with 5 home runs and 24 RBI. The next year, Anna split the year between Eugene and the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, posting a .280/.380/.440 slash line with 5 home runs and 31 RBI. In 2010, Anna returned to Fort Wayne and posted career-highs in both home runs (6) and RBI (32). He split the 2011 season between the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and the Double-A San Antonio Missions, batting .277/.391/.419 with 5 home runs and a career-high 41 RBI. In 2012, Anna spent the season in San Antonio, hitting .271/.377/.393 in 129 contests. In 2013, Anna spent the season with the Triple-A Tucson Padres, slashing .331/.410/.482 with 9 home runs and 73 RBI.

New York Yankees

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On November 20, 2013, the Padres traded Anna to the New York Yankees for Ben Paullus and New York added him to their 40-man roster.[3][4][5] In spring training in 2014, Anna competed with Eduardo Núñez, Zelous Wheeler, Yangervis Solarte, and Scott Sizemore for a reserve infielder role with the Yankees.[6] Anna ultimately won a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.[7] Anna hit his first career home run on April 10, against Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.[8]

On April 19, Anna pitched the eighth inning in a 16–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up two runs on three hits.[9] The next day, he drew a game-winning bases-loaded walk in the 12th inning against Rays' pitcher C. J. Riefenhauser.[10]

Anna was designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 3, 2014.[11]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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Anna was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5, 2014,[12] and was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was designated for assignment on August 3 when Jayson Nix was signed by the Pirates.[13] He was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis and finished the year with a .235/.398/.338 slash line with the team.

St. Louis Cardinals

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Anna signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on November 11, 2014.[14] Anna spent most of the 2015 season with the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, but did appear in one at-bat for the Cardinals in an April 23 game against the Washington Nationals. In 125 games for Memphis, Anna slashed .272/.382/.355 with 3 home runs and 44 RBI. Anna returned to Memphis in 2016, slashing .266/.344/.341 with 2 home runs and 39 RBI in 106 games for the team. On September 4, 2016, Anna was designated for assignment by the Cardinals.[15] He was released by the organization on September 7.

Kansas City Royals

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Anna signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization on January 21, 2017. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where he batted .285/.364/.376 with 5 home runs and 33 RBI in 114 games. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.[16][17]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On January 24, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[18] On March 28, Anna was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[19] In 122 games for Lehigh Valley, Anna posted a .271/.367/.341 slash line with one home run and 34 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.[20]

Minnesota Twins

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On December 11, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[21] On February 18, 2019, Anna announced his retirement from professional baseball.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Mokena (February 19, 2014). "Mokena Native Dean Anna Signs Deal with New York Yankees | Mokena, IL Patch". Patch.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "Dean Anna, Kyle Heyne Drafted By San Diego Padres". Ballstatesports.com. October 29, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. ^ "Dean Anna traded to the Yankees". Utsandiego.com. November 20, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  4. ^ "Yankees trade for infielder Dean Anna, make additions to 40-man roster". Nj.com. November 20, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "Yanks make deal with Padres, add six to 40-man roster". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Yankees catcher Brian McCann revisits Braves, early days". NY Daily News. March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  7. ^ Kuty, Brandon (March 28, 2014). "Yankees' Dean Anna 'numb' after making first MLB roster". NJ.com. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  8. ^ Raimondi, Marc (April 11, 2014). "Dean Anna makes most of start with first career HR". Newsday. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Ryan Hanigan racks up 2 HRs, 6 RBIs as Rays rout Yankees". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 19, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Four-run 12th inning lifts Yanks past Rays in finale of wild series". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 20, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ^ Marchand, Andrew (July 3, 2014). "Yangervis Solarte sent to Triple-A". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Claim Dean Anna Off Waivers from New York Yankees". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  13. ^ Baer, Bill (August 3, 2014). "Pirates sign Jayson Nix to a one-year deal". Hardball Talk. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  14. ^ Goold, Derrick (November 11, 2014). "Cards sign infielder Anna, three others". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  15. ^ Connor Byrne (September 4, 2016). "Cardinals Designate Dean Anna For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Dean Anna Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  17. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Duber, Vinnie (January 23, 2018). "Minor league infielder and Lincoln-Way East alum Dean Anna tweets he's signing with hometown White Sox | NBC Sports Chicago". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  19. ^ "Phillies' Dean Anna: Dealt to Phillies". CBSSports.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  20. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Eddy, Matt (January 12, 2019). "Minor League Transactions: Dec 19 - Jan 10". Baseball America. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  22. ^ "Dean Anna: Calls end to career". February 18, 2019.
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