What a throw! Braves prospect shows off cannon

April 20th, 2022

Watch it again! It's simply a thing of beauty.

He may be suiting up for Triple-A Gwinnett, but Justin Dean made a Major League throw from the corner in right field in the eighth inning against the Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday night. Atlanta's 2018 17th-round Draft pick executed the play like a pro just in front of the warning track and in front of the right-field foul pole -- getting himself in position to make the catch on a fly ball and then get his legs behind him to put all of his might into the throw to third base.

Jacksonville's Joe Dunand attempted to tag up and slide into third on the play, but the Marlins prospect was left stunned when the throw -- which came in on a line -- beat him to the bag. He was tagged out by Yariel Gonzalez for the 9-5 double play. The 25-year-old Dean has amassed 25 outfield assists over 274 career games in the Minors.

After being taken No. 503 overall by the Braves out of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Dean opened his pro career in the Rookie-level Appalachian League before being promoted to Low-A Rome to conclude his rookie season. The South Carolina native spent 2019 with the Rome Braves where he showed off his wheels -- swiping 47 bags in 57 attempts over 109 games. Following the canceled season in 2020, Dean spent last year with Double-A Mississippi where he continued to flash his speed and steady glove in the outfield -- posting a .993 fielding percentage across 99 games.