Dean Anna


Dean William Anna is a former American professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees in his rookie season of 2014 then with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.

Career

Early career

Anna graduated from Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois. 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. After his junior year of college, the San Diego Padres selected him in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.

New York Yankees

On November 20, 2013, the Padres traded Anna to the New York Yankees for Ben Paullus. 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. Anna ultimately won a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster. Anna hit his first career home run on April 10, against Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.
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. The next day, he drew a game winning bases-loaded walk in the 12th inning against Rays' pitcher C. J. Riefenhauser.
Anna was designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 3, 2014. He was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5, 2014, and assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was designated for assignment on August 3 when Jayson Nix was signed by the Pirates.

St. Louis Cardinals

Anna signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on November 11, 2014. Anna spent most of the 2015 season with the Cardinals AAA affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, but did appear in one at bat for the Cardinals in an April game against the Washington Nationals. On September 4 he was designated for assignment by the Cardinals.

Further career

Anna signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on January 21, 2017. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017. On January 24, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. On March 28, 2018, Anna was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies organization and assigned to the Class AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
On December 11, 2018, Anna signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. On February 18, 2019, Anna retired from professional baseball.