Dean Anna

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R:  250/267/341, 44 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 8 K, 1-1 SB
A-:  224/366/355, 107 AB, 2 2B, 4 HR, 20 BB, 23 K, 10-11 SB

After he signed, the Padres sent Anna to the short-season Northwest League.  He didn’t hit especially well there, but he showed excellent plate discipline.  The Padres nevertheless moved him down to rookie ball late in the year.  Between the two locations, Anna played second, short and third, more second than the others.

2009
A-:  310/416/517, 145 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 23 BB, 28 K, 7-13 SB
A:  200/281/236, 55 AB, 2 2B, 7 BB, 13 K

The Padres sent Anna to low A to start the season, but he played only sporadically and they moved him down to the Northwest League once its season started.  He dominated there, hitting for average and power, and getting on base.  Anna played primarily short in short season ball.

2010
A:  271/381/431, 225 AB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 39 BB, 40 K, 5-6 SB

Anna spent the season as a utility player in low A, playing only part-time and getting time at second, third, short and both corner outfield positions.  His overall hitting line was nearly identical to his career minor league numbers.

2011
A+:  311/400/466, 148 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 19 BB, 22 K, 2-2 SB
AA:  253/385/384, 198 AB, 18 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 41 BB, 19 K, 3-3 SB

The Padres moved Anna up to high A, where he returned to a utility role.  He hit very well, albeit in the hitting-crazy California League, and San Diego moved him up to AA in mid-June.  He played more or less regularly there, although he continued to move around among all four infield positions and both corner outfield positions.  He had an exceptional K:BB ratio in AA.

2012
AA:  271/377/393, 425 AB, 16 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 66 BB, 76 K, 6-10 SB

Anna spent the season in AA, playing regularly but still moving around all over the field.  He continued to get on base at a high rate.

2013
AAA:  331/410/482, 498 AB, 38 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 61 BB, 65 K, 3-10 SB

Anna spent the season in AAA, dividing his time evenly between second and short.  He had a big year at the plate, although it’s worth noting that he was playing in a strong hitter’s environment in Tucson in the Pacific Coast League.  After the season, the Padres traded him to the Yankees in a minor deal, possibly because they didn’t intend to add him to their 40-man roster.  The Yankees immediately added Anna to their roster.

2014
AAA (NYY):  192/283/292, 130 AB, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 14 BB, 20 K, 0-1 SB
AAA (Pgh):  235/398/338, 68 AB, 4 2B, 1 HR, 19 BB, 5 K, 1-1 SB
MLB (NYY):  136/200/318, 22 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 K

Anna made the Yankees out of spring training and got into a dozen games in April, most of them at short.  He didn’t hit much and the Yankees sent him to AAA late in the month.  He played mostly short there and continued to struggle at the plate.  The Yankees designated him for assignment in a series of roster moves in early July and the Pirates claimed him.  The Pirates didn’t really seem to have much interest in Anna; when they needed a utility infielder, they called up the historically bad-hitting Michael Martinez.  They designated Anna for assignment when they signed Jayson Nix; he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Indianapolis.  The Pirates loaded the team with utility infielders (they also claimed Tommy Field on waivers and quickly outrighted him, and they already had Martinez, Robert Andino, Chase d’Arnaud and Blake Davis), so Anna played only sporadically, mostly at second.  He rebounded a little at the plate, mostly in the form of an astronomical walk rate.

Anna’s on-base skills have been impressive in the minors, but hitters whose best skill in the minors is drawing walks don’t necessarily do well in the majors.  The Pirates certainly don’t seem to have had that much interest in him.  He’ll be a free agent in the off-season and will likely move on.