The CBB continues our countdown for the 2010 College Baseball season by checking in on the Top 100 Players in the country. We will be providing one player per day until we reach number 1.
We continue the list today with number 8 in our countdown with senior first baseman Blake Dean from LSU. He is from Crestview Florida where he attended Crestview High School where he was a four year letterwinner. He was named a High School All-American in his senior season by Louisville Slugger. He also was named second-team 5A all-state as a pitcher in his junior season while being named second-team 5A all-state recognition as a sophomore.
Dean stepped right into the Tigers lineup as a freshman in 2007 where he started all 56 games. He played 28 games in left field, 24 at DH and four in right field. He ended up hitting .316 with seven homers, 46 RBI as he picked up multiple honors. He was named Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC recognition and was voted the Louisiana Freshman of the Year by the state’s sportswriters association.
Blake’s sophomore season saw him play in 67 out of the Tiger’s 69 games as he hit .353 with 20 homers and 73 RBI. He started 39 games in left field and 28 at 
DH. He picked up several awards including being named to the 2008 Baseball America First-Team All-American Team, 2008 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player, 2008 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, 2008 Louisiana Hitter of the Year and 2008 ABCA Second-Team All-South Region.
He continued his strong college career as a junior in 2009 as he hit .328 with 17 homers and 71 RBI as he appeared in 72 out of the team’s 73 games. Dean started 57 games as the DH while appearing in the outfield 15 times. He picked up several awards including 2009 First-Team All-SEC team, 2009 SEC All-Tournament Team, and 2009 First-Team All-Louisiana. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the tenth round of the 2009 MLB Draft but decided to return to Baton Rouge.
Dean will be making the adjustment this season to playing first base. If he plays even a marginal first base then his draft stock is likely going to rise as his defense is the biggest question mark in his game. He enters the 2010 season eighth on the homer list while being sixth in RBI.
You can check out the rest of our Top 100 by clicking here.
