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The Dean of Swing

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Dean Anna with Triple-A Tucson in 2013

Infielder Dean Anna waited a long time. Six years, 1,845 at-bats and hundreds of bus rides to be exact. It was everything he thought it would be, and more.

On Thursday night, Anna connected on his first career home run – a solo shot off Clay Buchholz in the fifth to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. He ran around the bases, head down like he’d done it plenty of times before. When he got to the dugout, the Captain, Derek Jeter, was the first to greet him.Β “That was a cool moment,” Anna said. “I think I’ll remember that for a long time.”

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Anna at Ball State

Anna, 27, was born in Mokena, Ill near Chicago. He compiled a .340 average at Lincoln-Way East HS in Frankfort, Ill and also played point guard for the basketball team and lettered all four years in golf.

Anna attended John A. Logan College – a junior college – where he would help the team go 41-14 over the two seasons he was there. Anna hit for the cycle once, and even set a school record with nine RBI in a single game.

Anna then went to Ball State where he majored in physical education. He was only there for one year before he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round (795th overall) of the 2008 first-year player draft. The long road to the major leagues was just beginning.

It took a while for Anna to get into the swing of things. He played in low-A ball and high-A ball for four years before getting promoted to Double-A San Antonio. He hit .253 with two homers and 23 RBI in 70 games in his first season in Double-A, not the impression he wanted to make.

Anna rebounded and hit .271 with 10 homers, 47 RBI in 129 games the following year in 2012. However, it was the 2013 season that really opened some eyes.

Derek Jeter greets Dean Anna after his first career home run
Derek Jeter greets Dean Anna after his first career home run

Anna finally broke out, and hit .331/.410/.482 with nine homers and 73 RBI in 132 games. He won the Pacific Coast League batting title, and was a PCL mid-season all-star and postseson all-star. The Yankees had their eye on him.

On November 20, 2013 New York traded pitcher Ben Paullus, a 24-year-old righty who had a 5.56 ERA in Class-A, for Anna. Anna attended just his second big league camp this spring and hit .262 in 42 at-bats. Β His ability to play multiple infield positions intrigued the Yankees so much that he made the opening day roster. Now, he hopes to stay.

Anna said after Thursday’s game he always pictured his first major league home run coming at Wrigley Field. “Yankee Stadium against the Red Sox is pretty good, too,” Anna said with a smile.

From Mokena, Ill to the Cathedral of Yankee Stadium, Dean Anna can now say he’s officially made it in the Show.Β “It’s an amazing feeling to just be a part of this. It’s unbelievable.”