Kansas State commitment ‘the best feeling in the world’ for top RHP Blake Dean
KENNESAW, Ga. (BVM) — Blake Dean played for his first baseball team at 3 years old. At age 5, he said he knew the sport would be his future. Fast-forward to 2021 and the junior out of Kennesaw, Georgia has solidified his baseball future with his commitment to Kansas State and his Wildcat days can’t come soon enough.
“It really was at 5 years old that I got the hang of things,” Dean said. “You could see I was an athlete on the field — I knew what I was doing, I understood the game. Everything clicked and I have loved it ever since.”
A right-handed pitcher at North Cobb Christian High School, Dean has impressed through his prep career and his mountain of accolades continues to grow. Ranked in the top 500 baseball players nationally for the class of 2023, Dean has participated in 29 national tournaments and invites since 2017. This past June, the righty was invited to play in the 2021 Junior National Showcase, an event that displays the top rising sophomores and juniors in the country with four days of drills and games. At this invite-only event, Dean topped out his fastball at 90 mph and recorded a 6.90 60-yard dash.
Currently in the rotation for his high school squad, Dean also suits up for the North Cobb Astros 18U team. Dean previously played summer ball with the Southeast Sox his freshman and sophomore years, but jumped teams this past summer. And though he is grateful for his development with the Sox, the Astros have given him the push he needed to bring his game to the next level.
“I loved my time with the Southeast Sox,” Dean said. “My training there was ridiculous and I will always be grateful for my time with that team. But my growth with the East Cobb Astros has been huge. I heard from a few college coaches and they wanted to see me pitch against really good talent. The Astros play against really good talent so I felt I made the right move for myself.”
Dean saw improvements through summer and fall ball. He tossed 52.1 innings and recorded 53 strikeouts and 11 earned runs. With a 1.48 ERA and a hot plus-fastball, Dean said his focus now is on placement and perfecting his already top-tier arsenal of pitches.
“I realized it’s not just about throwing hard,” Dean said. “You have to hit your spot, keep hitters off balance and learn how to strike people out. I like my fastball for that, but my slider is my best pitch I’ve ever had. My curve is decent and it gets hitters, but it’s something I want to perfect. I like to use it after my slider to throw the batter off balance and confuse him with the spin.”
The pitcher also sees time in the outfield while playing for his high school team, which he says allows him to showcase his arm strength. When it comes to his bat, Dean is confident in his swing but knows it is not what will take him to the next level.
“I’m not a bad hitter,” Dean said. “I just know I’ll be pitching at the next level so I don’t care too much about hitting. I can get the job done at the plate but it isn’t something I love to do. Except [batting practice] — I love BP.”
His arm is what earned him college attention and helped to garner eight college offers. With multiple options for his future, Dean said it was advice from others that helped him feel confident that his future was at Kansas State.
“Everyone told me that when I stepped onto the right campus, I would know,” Dean said. “I was wondering when I was going to have that feeling, and the second we started to drive through campus, I knew I was going to go there. I told my parents before our meeting with Coach [Hughes] that I was going to commit. I just knew. I got that feeling and I knew I was going to go there and succeed.”
With a packed academic and athletic calendar, Dean has little time to relax and unwind. When the chance does arise, the junior does his best to catch a little baseball or spend time with his core group of friends.
“I love to watch good baseball,” Dean said. “I’ll go to a Braves game or watch local stuff. I love to watch guys who are just insanely good at baseball — it’s motivating. And if I’m not watching baseball, I’ll hang out with my friends. There are eight or nine of us that have been friends forever. So we will go off-roading, hunting, or fishing. Just have fun together.”
A bright future ahead in Manhattan, the Wildcats have signed a solid piece to their 2023 rotation. And for Dean, his baseball career is sure to continue on past the Kansas State diamond.
“I strongly believe that I will play in the MLB,” Dean said. “I have worked hard my whole life and don’t let people outwork me. That’s just the way it is and that’s my goal. It’s the best feeling ever to know I’ll be playing college baseball at Kansas State and I know my future won’t stop there.”
