June 29th, 2016 at 9:39 am 
by Harold Uhlman DJ Peters was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Western Nevada College. Peters became the highest draft pick in the history of the junior college located in Carson City. The previous highest selection out of WNC was pitcher Dylan Baker who was taken in the fifth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2012.
Peters had previously been selected twice in the June Draft in the 36th round and became the third Wildcat selected in three straight MLB drafts. He was taken in the 36th round in 2014 by the Chicago Cubs following his senior year at Glendora High School and again in the same round in 2015 by the Texas Rangers after his first year with the WNC Wildcats.
The 6’-6” / 225-pound outfielder definitely made a wise decision in not signing following the previous two drafts. By continuing to play on, he elevated his drafting position by 32 rounds and in doing so he was selected for the third time, this time by the Dodgers. In the meantime, his baseball skills developed exponentially as he set single season and career records with the Wildcats.
The Region 18 Player of the Year set WNC single-season records in batting with a .419 average and in home runs with 16. Among his career records at WNC are 153 hits, 248 total bases, 104 runs batted in,108 runs scored and 23 homers.
The Glendora, California native perhaps could not have planned his own draft position any better. By not signing on two previous occasions Peters, in fact, may have been the architect of his 4th round selection. Very few players wind up being selected by their favorite team. However, since his early childhood in Glendora – 27 miles from Los Angeles – he attended as many Dodgers games as he possibly could. He quickly signed with the Dodgers and when he reported to Camelback Ranch in Phoenix following the draft, he was once again bleeding Dodger Blue.
Peters’ gamble to not sign as a 36th-round draft pick in 2014 and 2015 paid off when he was selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft by the Dodgers – the team he always dreamed of playing for.
(Photo courtesy of @8Peters)
When asked about signing with the Dodgers Peters not only expressed his gratitude at being signed so high up in the draft but also revealed a bit about his game. That is, the way he plays it.
“It was a very exciting time for me to share with the people that mean the most to me,” Peters said. “I’m just grateful I got my name called because most kids don’t get to hear that. I’m really happy with the spot where I went; that’s something I’ll never forget.”
“I can’t wait to get in there in that organization and impact them with my tools and the way I play the game of baseball,” Peters said. “I’ll keep on working. Signing isn’t when all the work stops; it’s when the work begins. The Dodgers have a great organization, they care for their players as men and players. They are definitely a player-first organization.”
His WNC coaches’ remarks – recorded during an interview on Reno, Nevada’s ABC affiliate KOLO – confirmed Peters’ desire to excel and leave it all on the field.
“Amazing; he worked so hard,” said WNC hitting instructor Aaron Demosthenes on his star hitter’s high draft selection. “Truly, it’s his work ethic. When things aren’t going well for him, he gets to work, instead of feeling sorry for himself. He was a madman with his fitness in the off-season. He gained strength and weight. Playing with the pro-style flat-seam ball helped, too.”
“That’s really special that he’s among the top 200 players in this country selected from any level,” said WNC head coach D.J. Whittemore of the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Peters. “He has that kind of talent, no doubt about that.”
Besides his burning desire to excel at the game of baseball and his all-out commitment to do whatever it takes by hard work to succeed, Peters has some other intangible qualities that make him a prime suspect for success.
During his experience in 2013 at the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park in San Diego as a 17-year old, Peters made a lasting impression on Arcadia Astros coach Sean O’Leary. Matt Rodriguez posted his O’Leary interview for Perfect Game.
“This Californian is the type of player every coach wants, but not every coach gets. He has rare baseball talent and even better character. That is already evident to O’Leary,” Rodriguez reported.
“He’s very humble, plays the game hard, respects the game, and is a very good teammate,” O’Leary told Rodriguez. “For a guy with his talent and ability he doesn’t have an ego, he doesn’t act like he’s better than everybody else.
“The best thing about him is just who he is as a person,” O’Leary continued. “For example, I have a kid with autism on my team too and he can’t play high school baseball and that’s like DJ’s little buddy. DJ looks after him and takes care of him. I think that says a lot for a kid that’s 17 years-old and has that compassion and heart for kids with autism and stuff like that.”
As a teenager Peters perhaps had an understanding of the game of baseball that would make him a bit precocious in that respect.
“I wanted to go out there, hit the ball, relax, and basically just have fun. I was nervous the first day, but when I dipped my feet in the water I got used to it very well and I loved it,” Peters said. “Baseball is a game of failure; we all know that. If you don’t have fun, why play? You gotta love it.”
Peters grew up watching the Dodgers from the stands at Dodger Stadium. He is now one step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing there.
(Photo courtesy of @8Peters)
“Baseball is a game of failure” sounds like a seasoned Duke Snider talking about failing 70 times out of 100 chances and still being successful enough to make into the Hall of Fame.
DJ Peters signed with the Dodgers on June 17th and played his first game of the season with the rookie level Ogden Raptors on Monday, June 20th. He struck out in his first professional at bat but quickly followed up with a base hit up the middle in his next trip to the plate.
Through his first eight games with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Rookie League, Peters is hitting .321 with an OBP of .406 and .942 OPS. Although he has not yet hit a home run, five of his nine hits have been for extra bases.
It appears that coach O’Leary summed it up best.
“Very rarely do you get a kid like DJ.”
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Yes, I am pulling for this kid, I knew he went to Western Nevada College, a Junior College about 30 miles from where I live, but, I like him even more after reading about his character.
Western Nevada College, has become the “go to” place for aspiring young baseball players in my area. Used to be Feather River College in Quincy, CA. I understand Western Nevada is doing a good job helping these young guys. Following is a bio for the coach.
http://wildcats.wnc.edu/coaches.aspx?rc=10&path=baseball
Off-topic. If you don’t mind me asking, where do you live? I have a very dear friend and former co-worker who lives in Dayton, NV. Also, Nancy Bea and her husband Bill live in Silver Springs.
I live in Reno (since 1983) about 2 miles west of all the casinos, next to the Truckee River. Reno is about 30 miles north of Carson City. Dayton is about 10 miles east of Carson City and Silver Springs is about 30 miles east of Carson City.
Box, you were in Reno when my son played for UNR. Back then he was best known as Bubba, and still holds some UNR batting records where he was an All-American. He left and played 9 years professionally, but Reno has remained his home since 1992, and is now one of the Women’s softball coaches for the University. I get to Reno quite often.
AlwaysCompete, I was able to figure out who your son is.
I have heard of him, perhaps from his UNR days, or him being in the women’s softball world. I am sure you are very proud of him and his OUTSTANDING accomplishments! I am also sure Dad probably had a lot to do with his success.
My daughter played varsity softball at Reno High as a freshman through junior. Gave it up her senior year to compete in “We the People” a high school U.S. Constitution competition. Her Constitution team was state champs and nineteenth out of 50 states at national competition in Washington D.C. Anyways, as you know, young softball/baseball players and their traveling teams are always training with different coaches/camps. I wonder if their paths crossed? However, she was much more into pitching than hitting. We did the pitching lessons and practice for years, her pitching, Dad catching. Good Days!
I have tickets to all four games between Oklahoma City Dodgers and Reno Aces next month. Would love to meet you if you are in town.
P.S. What a jewel your granddaughter must be. Waiting until April 18th to be born!
It sounds very much like DJ has the tools to succeed in this game. It’s all up to him. Character, it appears more more, is becoming one of those intrinsic qualities that teams can’t have enough of.
It’s good to have a local kid with Dodger roots. Hope he does well.
I’m one of those guys who usually only follows the draft on the first day (rounds one through 10) and I immediately research the Dodgers picks.
Although I’m quite impressed with all of the Dodgers first day picks, I really liked what I found on DJ. In fact, as Harold will attest, he is actually my favorite 2016 Dodgers draft pick.
Within minutes of his selection I contacted Harold and asked if he knew anything about DJ and inquired if he might be interested in doing an article on him.
Needless to say, Harold did his usual outstanding job on a guy who very well be among the first from the class of 2016 to make it to the bigs.
It’s always good to see the Dodgers take a local kid in the draft, especially when they have talent and character. Hopefully DJ moves up the ladder quickly.
The Dodgers hit a gold mine with DJ.
Such a hard,self-disciplined, and highly motivated ball player. He has been bleeding Dodger Blue for years. It is so great to see him living out his dream.
God bless him and all the players.