Nick Dean – Pic from the University of Maryland
Odds are that if you are a Friday night starter for division one school, and one of the top five conferences that you were going to get drafted. And that was the case for Nick Dean from the University of Maryland. But it wasn’t exactly sure thing. Dean has a lot of positive qualities that are going to help him in his first couple years as a Cub. And who knows what happens to any pitcher once they begin their throwing program, especially after that first winter implementing it.
Basic info
Age- 22
Height – 6-foot-3
Weight – 180
Throws – Right
From – Bensalem, Pennsylvania, University of Maryland
Drafted in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB draft
The Hype Video.
When I saw this video of Nick Dean put out by the University of Maryland, I was pretty pumped and ready for him to pitch. In college, Dean was your classic command and control guy. He’s not going to blow 95 to 99 by you. He’s able to throw four pitches including a low 90s fastball and upper 70s changeup and curve as well as a mid 80s cutter. What he is best at is putting those pitches where he wants them.
Dean pitched for four years in Maryland and is a senior sign. He struck out a batter per inning in his career with an ERA of 4.44. His best year was as a sophomore when he had a 2.87 ERA in nine starts. But the last two years, he took the bump once a week 15 times.
What the Cubs are basically getting is a guy that they can hopefully build around his make up and improve his velocity and possibly adjust a couple shapes of his pitches.
Most D1 guys will be able to survive at Low Class-A just fine with that, especially if they were a Friday night starter. Things start to get a little a hairy when they get to South Bend at High-A as it is a pretty big jump for a lot of players. We’ll see just exactly how he does but I would guesstimate that he would start out next season in Myrtle Beach and eat some innings there.
Then again, you never know how he’s going to develop with pro instruction this off-season. We’ve seen it time and time again where a lot of guys make huge jumps that first off-season.
Here is what Maryland Coach Morrison said of Dean’s talents.
Normally, he would take a Friday night starter and he would start in your minors. But what Dean does best is shut down lefties. He has a changeup that just has a movement to it that heats up guys.
Who knows, the Cubs may want him as a reliever but we’re not gonna know until next season.
Here is what Jack Perkins of Prospects Live wrote about Dean after seeing him in the College World Series:
Nick Dean, RHP – University of Maryland
Final Line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 Ks
This was my second time seeing Nick Dean this year and not too much has changed. I have been somewhat hot and cold on Dean. When his command is on and his changeup is flashing like a plus pitch, he can be really filthy. The changeup is deceptive, sits in the low-80s and he is able to maintain arm speed while throwing it. When it is on, it helps keep hitters off his fringe-average sinker that sits 90-91 and tends to dip down into the high-80s a bit. The best part about his changeup is that he is confident enough in his command of it to throw it in any count. He’s able to work it in all parts of the zone and commands it really well. He has a third pitch breaking ball that lacks some bit and is more of a get-me-over pitch to righties. His command carries him, but when he loses it he has a tendency to get hit extremely hard. He kept in check for most of this game but started to lose it in the sixth. The positive about Dean is he keeps his poise on the mound. When he gets into trouble he does a good job of minimizing the damage. Dean is likely a guy to go on Day 3 of the MLB Draft. His lack of velocity and a true average third pitch will have him pegged down a bit on draft day, but there is some room for development and to grow.
He could be one of those sneaky guys who the Cubs build a pitching profile around one pitch, in this case, his change.
| 2023 | |||||
| RD | Pick | Pos | Player | School | Bonus |
| 1 | 13 | SS | Matt Shaw | Maryland | |
| 2 | 68 | SP | Jaxon Wiggins | Arkansas | |
| 3 | 81 | SS | Josh Rivera | Florida | |
| 4 | 113 | SP | Will Sanders | South Carolina | |
| 5 | 149 | C | Michael Carico | Davidson | |
| 6 | 176 | OF | Alfonsin Rosario | P27 | |
| 7 | 206 | SS | Yahil Melendez | B You Academy (PR) | |
| 8 | 236 | OF | Brett Bateman | Minnesota | |
| 9 | 266 | 1B | Jonathon Long | Long Beach State | |
| 10 | 296 | SP | Luis Martinez-Gomez | Temple College | |
| 11 | 326 | OF | Zyhir Hope | Colonial Forge HS | |
| 12 | 356 | 2B/OF | Carter Trice | NC State | |
| 13 | 386 | SP | Sam Armstrong | Old Dominion | |
| 14 | 416 | RP | Grayson Moore | Vanderbilt | |
| 15 | 446 | SP | Ty Johnson | Ball State | |
| 16 | 476 | RP | Daniel Brown | Campbell | |
| 17 | 506 | SP | Ethan Flanagan | UCLA | |
| 18 | 536 | 3B | Brian Kalmer | Gonzaga | |
| 19 | 566 | SP | Nick Dean | Maryland | |
| 20 | 596 | 3B | Drew Bowser | Stanford |
