DJ Peters

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = DJ Peters

|image = DJ_Peters_(iI64RAULH5M).png

|image_size =

|caption = Peters with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2017

|team =

|number =

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|12}}

|birth_place = Glendora, California, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 23

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Los Angeles Dodgers

|debut2league= KBO

|debut2date = April 2

|debut2year = 2022

|debut2team = Lotte Giants

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=October 3

|finalyear=2021

|finalteam=Texas Rangers

|statleague = MLB

|statyear =

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .197

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 13

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 38

|stat2league = KBO

|stat2year = 2022 season

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .228

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 13

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 48

|teams =

Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2021}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2021}})
Lotte Giants ({{by|2022}})

}}

Donald Scott Peters (born December 12, 1995) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

Amateur career

Peters attended Glendora High School in Glendora, California. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 36th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and attended Western Nevada College, where he played college baseball. After one year at Western Nevada, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 36th round of the 2015 MLB draft, but again did not sign and returned to Western Nevada. In 2016, he was the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year.{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Peters SWAC Player of the Year |url=http://www.nevadaappeal.com/sports/college/peters-swac-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=August 27, 2017 |publisher=NevadaAppeal.com}}{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2016 |title=WNC outfielder DJ Peters named SWAC Player of Year |url=http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/2016/05/12/wnc-outfielder-dj-peters-named-swac-player-year/84290626/ |access-date=August 27, 2017 |publisher=Rgj.com}} After the season, Peters was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and signed,{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Dodgers take D.J. Peters in fourth round |url=http://www.recordcourier.com/sports/dodgers-take-d-j-peters-in-fourth-round/ |access-date=August 27, 2017 |publisher=RecordCourier.com}} turning down a scholarship offer from California State University, Fullerton. Peters was initially committed to Cal State Fullerton out of high school.

Professional career

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

File:DJPeters.jpg in 2017]]

Peters spent his first professional season with the Ogden Raptors where he posted a .351 batting average with 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and a 1.052 OPS in 66 games.{{Cite web |last=Grennell |first=Michael |title=Ogden Raptors outfielders making an impact on the team and on each other |url=http://www.standard.net/Ogden-Raptors/2016/08/22/Raptors-outfielders-making-an-impact-on-the-team-and-on-each-other |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013075441/http://www.standard.net/Ogden-Raptors/2016/08/22/Raptors-outfielders-making-an-impact-on-the-team-and-on-each-other |archive-date=2016-10-13 |access-date=August 27, 2017 |publisher=Standard.net}} He spent 2017 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and was named to the California League mid-season all-star team.{{Cite web |last=Lindskog |first=Mike |date=June 13, 2017 |title=Six All-Stars for Quakes! |url=https://www.milb.com/quakes/news/six-all-stars-for-quakes/c-236201746/t-196093336 |access-date=June 13, 2017 |website=Milb.com}} In 132 games, he batted .276 with 27 home runs and 82 RBIs,{{Cite web |title=DJ Peters Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=656847#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL |access-date=February 19, 2018 |publisher=MiLB.com}}{{Cite web |title=D.J. Peters Minor League Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=peters000dj- |website=Baseball Reference}} and at the end of the season, was named to the postseason all-star team and was selected as the California League Most Valuable Player.{{Cite web |last=Lindskog |first=Mike |date=August 22, 2017 |title=Peters Wins MVP; Quakes with Three All-Stars |url=https://www.milb.com/quakes/news/peters-wins-mvp-quakes-with-three-all-stars/c-249947000/t-196093336 |access-date=August 22, 2017 |website=milb.com}} Peters spent 2018 with the Tulsa Drillers, batting .236 with 29 home runs and sixty RBIs in 132 games.{{Cite web |title=DJ Peters Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=656847#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL |access-date=January 1, 2019 |publisher=MiLB.com}} He returned to Tulsa to begin 2019{{Cite web |last=Huskey |first=Jonathan |date=April 4, 2019 |title=Tulsa Drillers Start Season As Defending Texas League Champs |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/40255926/tulsa-drillers-start-season-as-defending-texas-league-champs |access-date=September 6, 2019 |website=newson6.com}} and was promoted to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 27.{{Cite web |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Dodgers promote Lux, May to OKC |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/los-angeles-dodgers-promote-gavin-lux-dustin-may-to-triple-a-oklahoma-city/c-308530378 |access-date=June 28, 2019 |website=milb.com}} Between the two levels, he hit .249/.358/.453 in 125 games with 23 homers and 81 RBI. He was added to the 40-man roster after the season.{{Cite web |last=Gurnick |first=Ken |date=November 20, 2019 |title=Dodgers add three prospects to 40-man roster |url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-place-three-prospects-on-40-man-roster |access-date=November 21, 2019 |website=mlb.com}}

On April 23, 2021, Peters was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Eric |date=April 23, 2021 |title=Zach McKinstry placed on injured list with oblique strain, Dodgers recall DJ Peters |url=https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/23/22400413/zach-mckinstry-injured-list-oblique-strain-dodgers-dj-peters |website=SB Nation |accessdate=April 24, 2021}} He made his MLB debut that day as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and grounded out to third base from Nick Ramirez of the San Diego Padres.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, April 23, 2021 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN202104230.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |accessdate=April 24, 2021}} His first career hit was a double off Mike Mayers of the Los Angeles Angels on May 8, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Eric |date=May 8, 2021 |title=Dodgers offense goes boom, does just enough to rescue another bad bullpen performance |url=https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/8/22426827/dodgers-offense-singles-night-mookie-betts-clayton-kershaw-terrible-bullpen-angels-recap |website=SB Nation |accessdate=May 9, 2021}} On May 27, 2021, Peters hit his first big league home run off Alex Wood of the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web |title=Dodgers 4, Giants 3 |url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-dodgers/2021/05/27/633930#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=633930 |website=mlb.com |accessdate=May 28, 2021}} In 18 games with the Dodgers, he had five hits in 26 at-bats.{{Cite web |title=DJ Peters Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peterdj01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |accessdate=July 29, 2021}} Peters was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on July 29, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Toribio |first=Juan |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Dodgers finalize deal with KC for Duffy |url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/danny-duffy-trade |website=MLB.com |accessdate=July 29, 2021}}

=Texas Rangers=

On August 2, 2021, Peters was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=August 2, 2021 |title=Rangers Claim DJ Peters Off Waivers From Dodgers |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/rangers-claim-dj-peters-off-waivers-from-dodgers.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors |accessdate=August 2, 2021}} Over 52 games for Texas in 2021, Peters hit .198/.218/.426/.645 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI.{{Cite web|last=Levi Weaver|date=October 6, 2021|title=Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Position players edition|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2862425/2021/10/06/grading-the-2021-texas-rangers-position-players-edition/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-08|website=The Athletic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006124730/https://theathletic.com/2862425/2021/10/06/grading-the-2021-texas-rangers-position-players-edition/ |archive-date=October 6, 2021 }} On November 30, Peters was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Round Rock Express.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-dj-peters-loses-spot-on-40-man-roster/|title = Rangers' DJ Peters: Loses spot on 40-man roster| date=December 2021 }}

=Lotte Giants=

On December 9, 2021, Peters signed a one-year, $680,000 deal with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League.{{cite web|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20211209010000315|title=KBO's Giants sign ex-MLB player DJ Peters

|publisher=English.yonhapnews.co.kr |date=December 9, 2021 |accessdate=December 18, 2021}} He was waived by the Giants on July 18 after posting a .228 batting average with 13 home runs in 85 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/kbo-giants-release-dj-peters-dodgers-rangers.html|title=KBO's Lotte Giants Waive DJ Peters|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Steve|last=Adams|date=July 18, 2022|accessdate=July 31, 2022}}

=Washington Nationals=

On September 9, 2022, Peters signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He appeared in 13 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to close out the year, hitting .174/.216/.239 with no home runs and 4 RBI. Peters elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=February 4, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=Detroit Tigers=

On February 8, 2023, Peters signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.{{Cite web|title=Tigers' DJ Peters: Signs minors deal with Detroit|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-dj-peters-signs-minors-deal-with-detroit/amp/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Peters converted into a pitcher for the 2023 season, and spent the year with the rookie–level Florida Complex League Tigers. In 17 appearances for the club, he registered a 6.23 ERA with 24 strikeouts across {{fraction|21|2|3}} innings of work. Peters elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=February 4, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=Texas Rangers (second stint)=

On January 31, 2024, Peters signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web|title=Rangers' DJ Peters: Lands minor-league deal with Texas|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-dj-peters-lands-minor-league-deal-with-texas/amp/|access-date=February 4, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 29 appearances split between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rangers and High-A Hickory Crawdads, he accumulated a 2-2 record and 4.70 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 2 saves across {{fraction|38|1|3}} innings pitched. Peters elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|work=Baseball America|date=November 6, 2024|accessdate=November 6, 2024|first=Matt|last=Eddy}}