I have a confession to make. I am extremely biased when it comes to Dodgers top-ranked outfield prospect D.J. Peters.

Why, you ask?

Because in addition to being a terrific five-tool player, the Glendora, CA native and the Dodgers fourth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Western Nevada College in Carson City, NV, D.J. is a great kid (not to mention that he and I share the same birthday … although he is a bit younger than I).

According to Baseball America, as of five days ago, Peters was ranked as the Dodgers 14th overall prospect and their top-ranked power hitter. This overall ranking will soon improve – significantly – when guys named Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Brusdar Graterol, Tony Gonsolin, and Josiah Gray officially transition from prospects to major leaguers this season.

When there was talk this past offseason that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Freidman was making a run at Garrett Cole, Anthony Rendon, and even Mookie Betts, Peters’ name frequently came up on social media as a potential trade chip. Fortunately (or at the very least apparently) Friedman isn’t into social media, as, on more than one occasion, he made it abundantly clear to potential trade partners that D.J. Peters would not be included in any trade talks – period. (This, of course, made me very happy).

Lo and behold, in the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday’s Spring Training home opener at Camelback Ranch against the Chicago Cubs, Peters, who had entered the game in the top of the sixth inning as the Dodgers new center fielder, hit a two-run bloop double to short center field driving in what would prove to be the winning runs in the eventual 4-2 Dodgers victory.

There is one rather significant downside for the 6′-6″ / 225-pound slugger, one that many (most) power hitters often struggle with – he strikes out a lot. That being said, Peters slugged 11 home runs in his 68 games with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 2019 and 12 home runs in his 57 games at Triple-A OKC last season; this to go along with 93 strikeouts at Tulsa and 75 at OKC. That being said, it seems only logical that spending time with the Dodgers major league hitting coaches and hanging around with guys named Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and that Betts guy would only stand to make Peters an even better hitter than he already is; and that’s a rather intoxicating thought.

Happy Birthday to us, D.J.!

…even if it isn’t until December.

Play Ball!

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