D.J. Peterson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #13 prospect in 2017
  Peterson led the nation with a 1.327 OPS his junior season at New Mexico and was drafted 12th overall by the Mariners in 2013. He was derailed after being hit by a pitch that broke his jaw in eight places in his pro debut. Afterward Peterson became noticeably skittish in the box and bailed out against inside fastballs. Despite that, his quick wrists and natural strength helped him produce in the low minors. He hit 31 home runs in 2014, his first full season, but that total shrunk to seven homers at Double-A in 2015 as advanced pitchers began to exploit him. Back at Jackson for a third straight season in 2016, Peterson took heed of an organization-wide emphasis on cutting down strikeouts. With a refined approach focused on selectivity, his natural bat speed and strength flourished, and he visibly appeared more confident, resulting in a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma and 19 homers. He remains a fringe-average hitter, but possesses above-average power and is showing he can once again get to it. That has become especially important after he moved from third base to first base exclusively. Peterson's 2016 season ended after breaking his left pinky finger fielding a ground ball on Aug. 22, and he will start 2017 back at Triple-A Tacoma.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #10 prospect in 2016
  Peterson's road to the big leagues hit a significant pothole in 2015, when a 0-for- 15 start with Double-A Jackson turned into a season-long slump. The Mariners drafted Peterson with the 12th overall pick in 2013, and his younger brother Dustin, now a Brave, was a second-rounder the same draft. D.J. was hit by a pitch in his pro debut that broke his jaw, but he returned the following season to belt 31 homers between high Class A and Double-A. He lost weight before the start of the 2015 season in an attempt to gain flexibility and speed, but it failed to pay off. The Mariners gave him a change of scenery with a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma in late July, but an Achilles injury ended that after just four games. He returned to action in the Arizona Fall League but fared no better, hitting .209/.321/.388. The Mariners believe Peterson still has the tools to hit and would like to see him manage the strike zone better, while using the whole field more. Some scouts still believe in his swing, but others don't think he'll hit enough to be a big league regular. Despite an above-average arm, he is a well below-average defender at third because of poor range. He spent more time at first base in 2015, likely his permanent home going forward. He's a well below-average runner but does not clog the bases. He'll need to show he can hit enough for a first baseman in a return to Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #2 prospect in 2015
  When James Paxton failed to sign with the Blue Jays in 2009, it triggered a chain reaction that sent Peterson to New Mexico. With Paxton returning to Kentucky, the school cut its scholarship for infielder Andy Burns, so Burns transferred to Arizona. To make room for Burns, Arizona reduced its offer to Peterson, who went to UNM instead . A short-armed, stocky hitter with extremely strong arms, Peterson was hit by a pitch that broke his jaw and knocked out some teeth in 2013. He showed no ill effects in 2014. Peterson has a low trigger to his swing and is short to the ball with a pullheavy approach. He can turn on premium velocity and shows an ability to recognize spin, but if he's going to live up to his potential to be an above-average hitter to go with his plus power, he's going to have to use the opposite field more. Defensively, Peterson is below-average at third base with limited range . His above-average arm is his best asset . He's a below-average runner, but he is smart on the basepaths. Peterson isn't all that far from the big leagues. If Seattle doesn't fill its needs at DH this offseason, he could be ready midway through 2015. Long-term, his bat should more than make up for his defensive limitations.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #2 prospect in 2014
  The Mariners drafted Peterson in the 33rd round in 2010 out of Gilbert (Ariz.) High, but he went to New Mexico instead and hit .414 with 35 homers in his final two seasons,prompting the Mariners to take him 12th overall last year. He quickly signed for the slot value of $2,759,100. His younger brother Dustin signed with the Padres as a second-round pick out of high school in 2013. Peterson was considered by many to be the best power bat available in the draft, and that is where his value lies. He can drive the ball to all fields with his big swing, but he keeps it under control well enough that he may not strike out as much as most sluggers. Peterson most likely will shift across the diamond to first base at some point, as he did at New Mexico in 2013. His arm is strong enough to play third base, but he lacks the range and footwork necessary for the position. He is a below-average runner. Peterson was thriving in his debut until Aug. 22, when a pitch hit him in the jaw, breaking it and requiring two surgeries. The Mariners expect him to be ready for spring training, with a probable 2014 assignment to high Class A High Desert, putting Peterson on course to reach Seattle by late 2015.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #12 prospect in 2013 draft
  The Mariners drafted Peterson in the 33rd round out of high school in 2010, and he turned down a six-figure offer to head to New Mexico. That decision will pay off this summer, as Peterson figures to go in the top half of the first round as one of the class' best all-around bats. Scouts gush about his hitting ability. He has short, hitter's arms, tremendous bat speed and strength, and always hits the ball on the screws. His hitting mechanics are sound, with quick, strong hands, and he shows the ability to make adjustments on the fly. He has keen pitch recognition skills and already has a pro approach to his at-bats. While New Mexico plays at an elevation higher than Coors Field, scouts say Peterson's power is legitimate. That's good because defense will never be a big part of his game. He is a below-average runner with an above-average arm. He moves well for his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and should get a chance to stick at third base, but he'll likely wind up in left field or first base. Peterson's bat should allow him to move quickly.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #10 prospect in 2014
  Peterson required about a month to figure out Cal League pitchers, after which he torched the league, hitting .349/.407/.697 from May 1 through his promotion to Double-A on June 23. He went on to finish second in the minors with 111 RBIs and seventh with 31 home runs. The 12th overall pick in last year's draft, Peterson has advanced quickly because of his offensive production. A big, strong presence in the box, he shows easy power to all fields. He does have some over-aggressiveness that will need to be toned down--opponents figured out he wasn't up there to take pitches--but he handled velocity and recognized spin. Opinions varied as to whether Peterson can stick at third base. His range will never be better than average, nor will his hands, but he makes the routine play and his arm works at third.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #8 prospect in 2014
  The 12th overall pick in the 2013 draft, Peterson joined Jackson on June 26 after demolishing the high Class A California League at hitter's paradise High Desert for three months. He continued to hit for power in the SL and finished the season with 31 homers and 111 RBIs overall, ranking seventh and second, respectively, in the minors. Peterson can turn around any pitcher's fastball with a quick, buggy-whip swing the produces consistent loud contact. He doesn't swing and miss excessively for a hitter with plus power, though the fact that he pulled all 13 of his SL homers to left field (and hit just two to right field all season) suggests to some managers that he can be pitched away. Most scouts project Peterson as a first baseman in the long term because he has a blocky, unathletic frame and well below-average speed. He also receives poor grades at third base for his range, hands and feet, though his arm grades solid-average and accurate, leading some to envision him in left field.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #3 prospect in 2013
  Nobody questions Peterson?s ability to hit, and the league?s managers also liked the work he put in at third base. If he has to move first base?as he did in the spring for New Mexico?he has a quick, middle-of-the-order bat to justify such a switch, but that might not be necessary. ?I saw him as having average to above-average range,? Hillsboro manager Audo Vicente said. ?And clearly, he can really hit.? Peterson?s one game at first base in his first professional summer came against Eugene. ?He was OK around the bag,? Gabella said. ?He can play third or first, he can hit and he can hit for power.? Peterson, who signed for more than $2.7 million, also handled low Class A Midwest League pitching as he hit .283/.336/.566 with seven home runs in 99 at-bats for Clinton until he was hit by a pitch that broke his jaw. He needed two surgeries and will have to miss the Arizona Fall League but is expected to have a full recovery by spring training.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2014

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Peterson led the nation with a 1.327 OPS his junior season at New Mexico and was drafted 12th overall by the Mariners in 2013. He was derailed after being hit by a pitch that broke his jaw in eight places in his pro debut. Afterward Peterson became noticeably skittish in the box and bailed out against inside fastballs. Despite that, his quick wrists and natural strength helped him produce in the low minors. He hit 31 home runs in 2014, his first full season, but that total shrunk to seven homers at Double-A in 2015 as advanced pitchers began to exploit him. Back at Jackson for a third straight season in 2016, Peterson took heed of an organization-wide emphasis on cutting down strikeouts. With a refined approach focused on selectivity, his natural bat speed and strength flourished, and he visibly appeared more confident, resulting in a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma and 19 homers. He remains a fringe-average hitter, but possesses above-average power and is showing he can once again get to it. That has become especially important after he moved from third base to first base exclusively. Peterson's 2016 season ended after breaking his left pinky finger fielding a ground ball on Aug. 22, and he will start 2017 back at Triple-A Tacoma.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  When James Paxton failed to sign with the Blue Jays in 2009, it triggered a chain reaction that sent Peterson to New Mexico. With Paxton returning to Kentucky, the school cut its scholarship for infielder Andy Burns, so Burns transferred to Arizona. To make room for Burns, Arizona reduced its offer to Peterson, who went to UNM instead . A short-armed, stocky hitter with extremely strong arms, Peterson was hit by a pitch that broke his jaw and knocked out some teeth in 2013. He showed no ill effects in 2014. Peterson has a low trigger to his swing and is short to the ball with a pullheavy approach. He can turn on premium velocity and shows an ability to recognize spin, but if he's going to live up to his potential to be an above-average hitter to go with his plus power, he's going to have to use the opposite field more. Defensively, Peterson is below-average at third base with limited range . His above-average arm is his best asset . He's a below-average runner, but he is smart on the basepaths. Peterson isn't all that far from the big leagues. If Seattle doesn't fill its needs at DH this offseason, he could be ready midway through 2015. Long-term, his bat should more than make up for his defensive limitations.