July 18, 2022 at 3:03 PM
Red Sox select Noah Dean with fifth-round pick
Dean is ranked No. 124 by MLBPipeline, No. 134 by ESPN and No. 140 by Baseball America.
Pitching primarily out of the bullpen for the Monarchs, the 21-year-old has a fastball that averaged 94 mph and reached as high as 97 mph, according to MLB Pipeline. He also possesses a slurvy breaking ball that has a 2-to-7 shape, but due to his low arm slot, has trouble getting on top of it and throwing it for strikes, according to MLB Pipeline, but Baseball America is more favorable on the pitch, grading it at 60 on the 20-80 scale due to its "solid two-plane bite". He also has a change-up, according to Baseball America, but threw it infrequently and may not need it if he remains in the bullpen.
Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America are of the opinion that he will stay in the bullpen as a professional, a role in which he was successful for Old Dominion. He had seven saves in 19 appearances as a third-year sophomore and set the program's career record for saves, with 18. Dean pitched to a 4.15 ERA over 26 innings of work, but recorded 46 strikeouts against 16 walks.
A New Jersey native, Dean also appeared in two games for Harwich in the Cape Cod League this season, throwing 1 2/3 innings.
Photo Credit: Old Dominion Athletics