LOS ANGELES, CA - Former Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball standout Justin Dean made his MLB debut this weekend, becoming the first Bear in recorded history to play in modern Major League Baseball. Lenoir-Rhyne Hall of Famer Don Padgett was the first Bear to play in the majors, seeing time with the Cardinals, Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies from 1937-1948.

Dean has spent the previous seven seasons in the minor leagues, most recently playing for the Oklahoma City Comets, a AAA affiliate of the LA Dodgers. His big break came last Friday when the Dodgers officially called him up for the first time after 680 games in the minors. The center fielder from Mauldin, South Carolina, saw time in all three games of the Dodgers' weekend series against the Blue Jays. He appeared as a center fielder, pinch runner, and garnered an at bat in game two. 

A three-year player for the Bears from 2016-18, Dean sits in the top-ten in Lenoir-Rhyne baseball history for triples, batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage, and hit by pitch. In 2018 he was named an All-SAC First Team honoree and an All-Region Second Team member. He became the ninth Bear to be drafted when the Atlanta Braves picked him up in the 17th round in 2018.