Dean signs with Blue Crabs

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Naugatuck native Pat Dean pitched two seasons for the Kia Tigers in the Korean Baseball Organization. -CONTRIBUTED

After being released by the Minnesota Twins on the final day of spring training camp, Naugatuck native Pat Dean is pitching for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Dean, a left-hander who was selected in the third round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Boston College by the Twins, pitched six years in the minor leagues for the Minnesota before making his Major League Baseball debut in 2016. Dean spent the past two seasons pitching in Korea with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization and returned home this year to take another shot at pitching in the major leagues.

Dean made six appearances in spring training for the Twins this year and didn’t allow a run in four of those outings.

Dean started his first game for the Blue Crabs on April 28. He pitched five shutout innings and struck out nine in a 5-1 win over defending champion Sugarland.

The Blue Crabs are scheduled to play the New Britain Bees at Beehive Stadium in New Britain June 18-20.