The Los Angeles Dodgers made multiple roster moves before their series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays in order to select the contract of Justin Dean from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The 28-year-old replaced Esteury Ruiz on the Dodgers’ active roster, who was optioned to the Comets. Luken Baker was designated for assignment to make room for Dean on the team’s 40-man roster.
Dean entered Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays as a defensive replacement in center field but did not have a plate appearance. He did the same on Saturday but this time struck out in his first career MLB at-bat.
With his appearance in the series opener, Dean became the seventh Dodgers rookie to wear an MLB debut patch on his jersey this season.
Roki Sasaki and Jack Dreyer previously did so when they both pitched in the Tokyo Series, while Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing earned their respective patches in May. Jack Little followed suit when his first game got overshadowed by a flare-up with the San Diego Padres, and Alex Freeland also joined the club at the end of July.
The MLB debut jersey patch began as a partnership between MLB, the Players Association (MLBPA), Fanatics and Topps in 2023. Since that year, players who make their MLB debut have a commemorative jersey patch on their sleeve, which is then authenticated for use in subsequent Topps products.
Michael Busch was the first Dodgers rookie to receive the special jersey patch under the partnership. He has since been joined by Bryan Hudson, Nick Robertson, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Ricky Vanasco, Landon Knack, Andy Pages, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, Ben Casparius, Sasaki, Dreyer, Kim, Rushing, Little, Freeland and now Dean.
Why Dodgers called up Justin Dean
The Dodgers view Dean as a defensive upgrade in center field over Ruiz, which is one of several reasons why they called him up from Oklahoma City.
“Justin is a really plus-plus center fielder, so just giving him a look out there as a defensive replacement, to pinch-run, be a guy off the bench, I think there’s a lot of utility in giving him a look,” manager Dave Roberts said.
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