Less than a week after winning a championship, the outfielder known for his “heads-up play” in World Series Game 6 has been claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.
SAN FRANCISCO — Less than a week after being crowned a World Series champion as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Justin Dean has already landed with a new team—and it happens to be one of the Dodgers’ most hated division rivals.
The San Francisco Giants officially claimed Dean off waivers on Thursday, shifting him to the other side of the National League West rivalry.
The move came just hours after Los Angeles outrighted Dean to clear room on the 40-man roster. The Dodgers made a flurry of roster moves, also outrighting pitcher Michael Grove and designating former All-Star Tony Gonsolin for assignment, to make space for minor leaguers Ryan Ward and Robinson Ortiz.
An “Unsung World Series Hero”
While Dean’s time in Los Angeles was brief, he will “always be a hero” to Dodgers fans for a single, brilliant play.
Fans will remember Dean as the outfielder whose “heads-up play” in the ninth inning of World Series Game 6 helped save the Dodgers’ season.
a line drive from Toronto’s Addison Barger got wedged under the outfield padding, Dean immediately threw his hands up to alert the umpires. His quick thinking invoked the dead ball rule, resulting in a ground rule double. The Blue Jays failed to score in the inning, and the Dodgers hung on to win Game 6 and force the winner-take-all Game 7, which they ultimately won.
Though he didn’t get a single plate appearance during the Dodgers’ 2025 postseason run, Dean entered 13 games as a crucial defensive replacement.
A New Opportunity in San Francisco
Dean is the “consummate fourth outfielder,” a strong, plus-defender who can play all three outfield positions. While he was mostly a defensive specialist for the Dodgers (he went 0-for-2 with a stolen base in 18 regular-season games), he provides valuable depth.
He may even have a path to an everyday role with the Giants, whose outfield figures to see several offseason departures.
He may not have gotten much playing time with the Dodgers, but his World Series heroics will not be forgotten. He will surely receive a “warm welcome” when he returns to Dodger Stadium, even as a member of the opposing team.
