Cubs Call Up Justin Dean

With only a few 40-man roster options available, the Chicago Cubs opted for outfield defense to replace a slumping hitter.

The Cubs on Friday called up outfielder Justin Dean from Triple-A Iowa following the demotion of designated hitter Moises Ballesteros.

Dean will be making his Cubs debut after being claimed off waivers this offseason from the San Francisco Giants. Dean was somewhat of a cult figure in the Los Angeles Dodgers' run to the World Series last year, appearing in 13 games but not once coming up to bat. He was a late-inning defensive substitution and pinch-runner. Dean made his MLB debut last year and is hitless in two at-bats over 18 games.

At Triple-A this year, Dean was slashing .238/.369/.354 with three homers and 25 RBIs, stealing 14 bases in 15 tries.

Ballesteros being sent down would seem to open more at-bats for Matt Shaw, who was in the lineup in right field for Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Seiya Suzuki as the designated hitter.