LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially selected the contract of outfielder Justin Dean and optioned outfielder Esteury Ruiz. To make room for Dean on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated Luken Baker for assignment.
The Dodgers have selected the contract of OF Justin Dean and optioned OF Esteury Ruiz. In order to make room for Dean on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated Luken Baker for assignment.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2025
Dean, 28, joins the Dodgers for his first stint with an MLB team. The Atlanta Braves drafted the outfielder in the 17th round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Los Angeles then offered Dean a minor league contract during the offseason last year, and he has made some definitive progress in his game, playing for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Comets.
In 81 games played for OKC, Dean has produced a slashline of .274/.370/.426, along with six homers, 25 stolen bases, and 31 RBI. He has spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, playing in 680 games, hitting .249 with 39 homers and 237 stolen bases.
Dean has been an outfielder merchant, patrolling all parts of the field, but spending the majority of his time in center field, starting in 57 games. In terms of the corner outfield positions, he has manned left field for four games and started in right field for 15 games.
Ruiz, 26, appeared in 19 games for the Dodgers, recording four hits and going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. Last season, he played 29 games for the Athletics, hitting .200 with five stolen bases and two homers.
He was mainly used as a late defensive replacement, either in the outfield or pinch running, and cracked four hits in 21 plate appearances during his short stint with Los Angeles.
Baker, 28, was claimed off waivers on Monday from the St.Louis Cardinals after bouncing back and forth from the Cards to their Triple-A affiliate, Memphis Redbirds. Baker had only 34 MLB at-bats in 2025 so far and has a batting average of .235 with eight hits and no homeruns.