:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49824461/dj-peters-running-2016-draft-cathleen-allison-western-nevada-athletics.0.0.jpg)
Name D.J. Peters
Selection: 4th round, 131st pick
School: Western Nevada College
Top 200 Ranking: NR
What he’s good at right now
Peters was a 2014 Perfect Game All American thanks to his power potential, and he showed more production this year at Western Nevada. It wasn’t just the power though, as Peters led the team in average as well, with only 33 strikeouts in sixty-one games. He’s added bulk to his frame but still looks like a solid athlete.
What he can be good at in the future
Junior colleges in the West have tended to favor offense, so Peters will have to prove his power production at the pro level, but he has the strength, bat speed, and leverage to hit for plus power. He might also end up with an above average hit tool, though his size could lend to some swing and miss against superior pitching.
What does he need to work on
A decent runner out of high school and a center fielder in college, Peters will need to work to stay agile enough to fit in an outfield corner at the pro level. He might end up with enough bat to carry first base if he has to, but he’s more valuable in right field. Despite the production, Peters swing can get long and may lead to contact issues against better pitching.
Carry tool
Peters has plus raw power and bat speed, which should be on full display in the Pioneer League and eventually the California League.
Biggest weakness
He didn’t show much weakness this year for Western Nevada, but proving his hit tool against pro pitchers will be key, as Peters’ size and swing length typically come with some swing and miss.
ETA
A productive JuCo guy, it would not surprise me to see Peters hit his way to Low A this year. That would push a potential ETA up to 2019 if it happens, but Double A will tell us quite a bit about his bat.
Realistic best case scenario: Peters was likely drafted on the hope that he could become a run producing right fielder for the middle of the order. He has the upside for .270+ average and 20-30 home runs annually at his peak.
Wrap
Peters' stat line at Western Nevada doesn’t fit the mold of a tall masher, but that’s not a bad thing. He walked more than he struck out and made contact at a fairly high clip. He did however, play in friendly offensive environments, but comes with the high school pedigree of a power prospect. He’s not likely to be challenged by the Pioneer League, so we will start seeing the type of potential he might possess in full season ball.