Dean Anna

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Dean Anna

|image = Dean Anna on May 23, 2013.jpg

|image_size = 240

|caption = Anna with the Tucson Padres in 2013

|position = Infielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|11|24}}

|birth_place = Glenwood, Illinois, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 4

|debutyear = 2014

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|finaldate = April 23

|finalyear = 2015

|finalteam = St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague = MLB

|statyear =

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .130

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 3

|awards =

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2014}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2015}})

}}

Dean William Anna (born November 24, 1986) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Career

=Early career=

Dean Anna was born on November 24, 1986, in Glenwood, Illinois. He graduated from Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois.{{cite web|author=Mokena |url=https://patch.com/illinois/mokena/mokena-native-signs-deal-with-new-york-yankees |title=Mokena Native Dean Anna Signs Deal with New York Yankees | Mokena, IL Patch |publisher=Patch.com |date= February 19, 2014|access-date=December 13, 2018}} He attended John A. Logan College for two years and then transferred to Ball State University to continue his college baseball career with the Ball State Cardinals.

=San Diego Padres=

After his junior year of college, the San Diego Padres selected him in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=1478609 |title=Dean Anna, Kyle Heyne Drafted By San Diego Padres |publisher=Ballstatesports.com |date=October 29, 2009 |access-date=December 14, 2013}} On June 15, 2008, Anna signed with his Padres and began his professional career with the AZL Padres. In 43 appearances between the AZL Padres and the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, Anna slashed .232/.341/.351 with 5 home runs and 24 RBI. The next year, Anna split the year between Eugene and the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, posting a .280/.380/.440 slash line with 5 home runs and 31 RBI. In 2010, Anna returned to Fort Wayne and posted career-highs in both home runs (6) and RBI (32). He split the 2011 season between the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and the Double-A San Antonio Missions, batting .277/.391/.419 with 5 home runs and a career-high 41 RBI. In 2012, Anna spent the season in San Antonio, hitting .271/.377/.393 in 129 contests. In 2013, Anna spent the season with the Triple-A Tucson Padres, slashing .331/.410/.482 with 9 home runs and 73 RBI.

=New York Yankees=

On November 20, 2013, the Padres traded Anna to the New York Yankees for Ben Paullus and New York added him to their 40-man roster.{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/20/padres-dean-anna-rule5-yankees-ben-paullus/ |title=Dean Anna traded to the Yankees |publisher=Utsandiego.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2013/11/yankees_make_roster_tweaks.html |title=Yankees trade for infielder Dean Anna, make additions to 40-man roster |publisher=Nj.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/nyy/new-york-yankees-add-top-prospect-gary-sanchez-to-40-man-roster?ymd=20131120&content_id=64084834&vkey=news_nyy |title=Yanks make deal with Padres, add six to 40-man roster |publisher=Newyork.yankees.mlb.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235120/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/nyy/new-york-yankees-add-top-prospect-gary-sanchez-to-40-man-roster?ymd=20131120&content_id=64084834&vkey=news_nyy |url-status=dead }} In spring training in 2014, Anna competed with Eduardo Núñez, Zelous Wheeler, Yangervis Solarte, and Scott Sizemore for a reserve infielder role with the Yankees.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-insider-mccann-revisits-braves-early-days-article-1.1727502 |title=Yankees catcher Brian McCann revisits Braves, early days |publisher=NY Daily News |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2014}} Anna ultimately won a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.{{cite news|last1=Kuty|first1=Brandon|title=Yankees' Dean Anna 'numb' after making first MLB roster|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2014/03/yankees_dean_anna_numb_after_making_first_mlb_roster.html|access-date=July 4, 2014|publisher=NJ.com|date=March 28, 2014}} Anna hit his first career home run on April 10, against Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.{{cite news|last1=Raimondi|first1=Marc|title=Dean Anna makes most of start with first career HR|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/dean-anna-makes-most-of-start-with-first-career-hr-1.7673983|access-date=July 4, 2014|publisher=Newsday|date=April 11, 2014}}

On April 19, Anna pitched the eighth inning in a 16–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up two runs on three hits.{{cite news|title=Ryan Hanigan racks up 2 HRs, 6 RBIs as Rays rout Yankees|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=340419130|access-date=July 4, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 19, 2014}} The next day, he drew a game-winning bases-loaded walk in the 12th inning against Rays' pitcher C. J. Riefenhauser.{{cite news|title=Four-run 12th inning lifts Yanks past Rays in finale of wild series|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/340420130|access-date=July 4, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=April 20, 2014}}

Anna was designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 3, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Marchand|first1=Andrew|title=Yangervis Solarte sent to Triple-A|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11172191/yangervis-solarte-new-york-yankees-demoted-triple-a|access-date=July 4, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=July 3, 2014}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Anna was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5, 2014,{{cite web|title=Pittsburgh Pirates Claim Dean Anna Off Waivers from New York Yankees|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkyankees/2014/07/06/pittsburgh-pirates-claim-dean-anna-off-waivers-from-new-york-yankees/|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212531/http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkyankees/2014/07/06/pittsburgh-pirates-claim-dean-anna-off-waivers-from-new-york-yankees/|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}} and was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was designated for assignment on August 3 when Jayson Nix was signed by the Pirates.{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/03/pirates-sign-jayson-nix-to-a-one-year-deal/ |title=Pirates sign Jayson Nix to a one-year deal |date=August 3, 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |work=Hardball Talk |first=Bill |last=Baer}} He was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis and finished the year with a .235/.398/.338 slash line with the team.

=St. Louis Cardinals=

Anna signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on November 11, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Goold|first1=Derrick|title=Cards sign infielder Anna, three others|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-sign-infielder-anna-three-others/article_0960a182-aa64-58a8-9e88-015d115b839b.html|access-date=May 5, 2016|work=St. Louis Post Dispatch|date=November 11, 2014}} Anna spent most of the 2015 season with the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, but did appear in one at-bat for the Cardinals in an April 23 game against the Washington Nationals. In 125 games for Memphis, Anna slashed .272/.382/.355 with 3 home runs and 44 RBI. Anna returned to Memphis in 2016, slashing .266/.344/.341 with 2 home runs and 39 RBI in 106 games for the team. On September 4, 2016, Anna was designated for assignment by the Cardinals.{{cite web|author=Connor Byrne |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/cardinals-designate-dean-anna-for-assignment.html |title=Cardinals Designate Dean Anna For Assignment |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=September 4, 2016 |access-date=December 13, 2018}} He was released by the organization on September 7.

=Kansas City Royals=

Anna signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization on January 21, 2017. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where he batted .285/.364/.376 with 5 home runs and 33 RBI in 114 games. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/dean-anna-542883|title = Dean Anna Stats, Fantasy & News| website=MLB.com }}{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=September 18, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On January 24, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.{{cite web|last=Duber |first=Vinnie |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/minor-league-infielder-and-lincoln-way-east-alum-dean-anna-tweets-hes-signing-hometown |title=Minor league infielder and Lincoln-Way East alum Dean Anna tweets he's signing with hometown White Sox | NBC Sports Chicago |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=January 23, 2018 |access-date=December 13, 2018}} On March 28, Anna was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-dean-anna-dealt-to-phillies/|title=Phillies' Dean Anna: Dealt to Phillies|date=March 28, 2018 |publisher=CBSSports.com|access-date=March 28, 2018}} In 122 games for Lehigh Valley, Anna posted a .271/.367/.341 slash line with one home run and 34 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On December 11, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-dec-19-2018-jan-10-2019/|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec 19 - Jan 10|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=January 12, 2019|access-date=January 12, 2019}} On February 18, 2019, Anna announced his retirement from professional baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/dean-anna-calls-end-to-career/|title=Dean Anna: Calls end to career|date=February 18, 2019 }}