Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

The last player from Northview High School in California to make it to the big leagues was infielder Chris Woodward, taken in Round 54 back in 1994, though the school did have its first drafted-and-signed player since Woodward when Nick Peoples joined the Nationals as a 12th-round pick a year ago. Curley, a big and athletic infielder who stood out on the summer showcase circuit at events like Perfect Game National and the Area Code Games, has the chance to top both of them.

Curley looks the part at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, with a frame some scouts feel is the most pro-ready of any prep player in southern California. Long, tapered and angular, he has some offensive tools to tap into, albeit with some mechanical flaws he needs to work through. With a crouch setup, he doesn’t leave himself room to use his long levers to produce power. He tends to be closed off and needs to open up and get some leverage, and he’ll have to shorten his swing at the next level to alleviate swing-and-miss concerns.

Curley can record some plus run times but is more of an above-average runner overall, one who might slow down a tick as he fills out that frame. Still, he might have a chance to stay at short with decent actions on the dirt and at least a plus arm. If he slows down, a move to third might make sense. At age 19 come Draft time, he might get bounced from some teams' models, but he’ll be eligible as a sophomore should he go on to Tennessee for college ball.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Curley stood out with his physicality and tools as a California high schooler, but not enough for pro teams to lure him away from his Tennessee commitment. The only freshman to earn a spot in the Volunteers' stacked 2024 lineup, he homered three times in the NCAA tournament and went 6-for-12 in the College World Series finals to help win the program's first national championship. He's one off the best sophomore-eligible talents in this year's Draft, though inconsistency on both sides of the ball may have derailed his chances of going in the first round.

More physical than most shortstops at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Curley has solid-to-plus raw power and lets it come naturally. He understands the strike zone and works from gap to gap with a quick, controlled right-handed stroke. But he has gotten overly selective at times this spring and hasn't done as much damage against non-fastballs as he did as a freshman.

Curley possesses average speed and shows good instincts on the bases. Though he doesn't have typical shortstop quickness, he compensates with good positioning and a finely tuned internal clock, and he possesses one of the strongest infield arms in college baseball. His defensive consistency and throwing accuracy have declined this year, prompting Tennessee to move him around the infield, and his future defensive home is now more uncertain.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

A notable prep prospect in the 2023 Draft out of California, Curley went to Tennessee, where he was a dynamic force as a freshman and entered 2025 as a potential first-round pick. His development stalled a bit, but his upside was enough for the Guardians to go over slot to sign him in the second round for $1,733,905. He played nine games at Single-A to end the year, where his production was lacking but the underlying data left reason for excitement.

Curley is a strapping 6-foot-3, 218 pounds, and produces elite exit velocities from the right side. His selective, if not passive, approach and late trigger can cut into how often he pulls the ball to maximize his power, but he makes up for that with exciting bat speed. Curley has long shown bat-to-ball skills against fastballs, and how he fares against secondary pitches in pro ball bears watching.

The big question surrounding him will be his defensive home. Tennessee moved him around the infield a lot his sophomore season, and he'll likely continue to play shortstop, third and second in pro ball, where there were hints of him playing more freely. His average speed works well on the bases, but his lack of quickness and consistency may stretch him at short. With a tremendous arm, though, he seems perhaps best suited for third base or could thrive in right field.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 65 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The only freshman to earn a spot in Tennessee's stacked 2024 lineup, Curley homered three times in the NCAA tournament and went 6-for-12 in the College World Series finals to help win the program's first National Championship. He ranked as one off the best sophomore-eligible talents in this year's Draft, though inconsistency on both sides of the ball derailed his chances of going in the first round. The Guardians pounced on him in the second round and signed him for an over-slot $1,733,905.

More physical than most shortstops at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Curley has solid to plus raw power that plays from foul pole to foul pole and comes naturally. He understands the strike zone and mostly works from gap to gap with a quick, controlled right-handed stroke. But he got overly selective this spring and didn't do as much damage against secondary pitches as he did as a freshman.

Curley possesses average speed and shows good instincts on the bases. Though he doesn't have typical shortstop quickness, he compensates with good positioning and a finely tuned internal clock. He had one of the strongest infield arms in the 2025 college class. His defensive consistency and throwing accuracy declined this year, however, prompting Tennessee to move him around the infield, and his future defensive home is now uncertain.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	SS Dean Curley assigned to Cleveland Guardians Prospects.
	02/25/2026	SS Dean Curley assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
	08/23/2025	SS Dean Curley assigned to Lynchburg Hillcats from ACL Guardians.
	08/11/2025	SS Dean Curley assigned to ACL Guardians.
	07/26/2025	Cleveland Guardians signed SS Dean Curley.
	06/03/2025	SS Dean Curley assigned to College Workout.
	02/21/2025	SS Dean Curley assigned to Tennessee Volunteers.
	02/06/2024	SS Dean Curley assigned to Tennessee Volunteers.
	06/13/2023	SS Dean Curley assigned to College Workout.
	07/14/2022	SS Dean Curley and assigned to High School Workout.