Cleveland Guardians select Tennessee infielder Dean Curley in 2025 MLB Draft

Dreams are being recognized in Atlanta with the 2025 MLB Draft taking place. Dean Curley is the latest player to hear his name called, being the No. 64th overall pick in the second round of the Cleveland Guardians. Curley spent his playing days in Knoxville with the Tennessee Volunteers but now has the opportunity to get his playing days underway.

Awards flooded in for Curley, both individual and team, over the past two years. He was a part of Tennessee’s College World Series-winning team, starting in 66 of 67 games. Curley did something similar this past season, starting in all 65 teams. Only one other Vols player did the same.

Being in the lineup is one thing, producing is another. Thankfully for head coach Tony Vitello, Curley was able to put up great numbers. Curley finished with a .315 average in 2025 while hitting 14 home runs and knocking in 51 RBIs. An OPS of .966 does a better job of showing how much Curley contributed.

If there was any negatives about Curley, it’s that his fielding percentage dipped quite a bit. Going from .935 in 2024, this season saw it at .906. A total of 32 errors were committed by Curley as he played in multiple infield spots. Maybe something to look for as he transitions to the next level.

What MLB draft analysts are saying about Tennesse infielder Dean Curley

Prior to the draft, a scouting report on Curley was provided by MLB.com. They ranked him as the 60th overall prospect in the draft, grading him as a 50 overall on the 80-grade scale. Curley’s arm at 65 came in as his best trait, followed by power, run, and field at 50.

“More physical than most shortstops at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, Curley has solid-to-plus raw power and lets it come naturally,” the scouting report said. “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.”

MLB.com went on to add more on Curley, speaking on what position he might wind up playing long term. Shortstop appears not to be the answer, citing some inconsistencies at the position this past year while at Tennessee. Curley is for sure an infielder but a decision will have to come on exactly where in the near future.