Former top outfield prospect for the Dodgers, DJ Peters, has embarked on a new journey with the Texas Rangers, transitioning to a pitching role. Peters, now 28, has officially inked a minor league contract with the Rangers, as reported by Dave Coggin of PFA Baseball.
During the offseason, it was revealed that Peters was exploring a second career path in Major League Baseball as a pitcher. The Texas Rangers have now provided him with the opportunity to pursue this goal. Notably, Peters was initially drafted by the Chicago Cubs and later by the Texas Rangers in the 36th round of the 2014 and 2015 drafts, respectively. However, he opted to return to school and was eventually drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Peters rapidly climbed the ranks within the Dodgers’ prospect system, reaching as high as the sixth position in 2018 according to MLB Pipeline.
His major league debut came in 2021 with the Dodgers, but he encountered difficulties, posting a batting line of .192/.382/.285 with just one home run and four RBIs in 18 games. Consequently, he was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Rangers.
In his time with the Rangers, Peters struggled offensively, recording a slash line of .198/.218/.426 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs across 52 games. However, he has not returned to the major leagues since then, spending time with the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate and the Lotte Giants of the KBO in 2022.
Now, in 2024, Peters is aiming to revive his MLB career, this time as a pitcher. According to Coggin, he possesses a mid-90s fastball with considerable vertical movement and a formidable slider.
Given his age of just 28, there remains ample opportunity for Peters to redefine his trajectory in Major League Baseball.
