The Washington Nationals have quietly bolstered their pitching depth by signing 25-year-old left-hander Noah Dean, who was released by the Boston Red Sox last week.
Dean, a fifth-round pick by Boston in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Old Dominion University, reached Double-A last season but struggled with command throughout his minor-league career. His release opens a fresh opportunity for the Nationals, who have a track record of developing young arms looking for a reset.
College Dominance Meets Pro Challenges
Dean thrived as a reliever at Old Dominion, posting a 3.93 ERA over 42 appearances with 18 saves across three seasons. Baseball America lauded his arsenal as "fearsome," calling him one of the top pure relievers in the 2022 draft class thanks to his power fastball and sharp breaking pitches.
The Red Sox envisioned him as a starter, but command woes plagued his progress. He flashed some impressive numbers like a 1.37 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over four Single-A starts in June 2024 (striking out nearly 40% of batters faced) but finished that year with a 3.96 ERA in Low-A and 6.38 ERA in High-A. Last season, he posted a 5.68 ERA between High-A and Double-A, with just 2⅔ scoreless innings at the higher level.
Low-Risk Upside for Nats Development
Washington's player development staff now inherits a pitcher with proven swing-and-miss stuff but room to refine his control. The Nats have picked up previous prospects in reclamation projects before, and Dean could slot in as a high-leverage bullpen option or multi-inning arm down the line.
This move adds another left-handed option to a farm system prioritizing pitching depth ahead of the 2026 season. Keep an eye on Dean this spring if he recaptures his college form, he could emerge as a surprise contributor for the Nationals.