ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Former Lobo great DJ Peterson was named one of the top third base prospects in all of minor league baseball Tuesday. MLB.com ranked him No. 4 at the position along with other major prospects like Kris Bryant and Joey Gallo.
Last season Peterson hit .297 across 65 games in the High-A California League and 58 games in Double-A Southern League. He also smacked 31 doubles and 31 home runs while driving in 111 runs across the two levels and earned an invitation to the Futures Game for top prospects among all levels. He went 1-for-2 in that game with a double off the base of the left-field wall.
He was recently back in Albuquerque to work out with head coach Ray Birmingham in preparation for spring training, and KRQE caught up with him.
During his three years as a Lobo, Peterson hit .381 and tied the school record for career doubles with 78. He also finished third all-time in total baes (492), fourth in RBIs (198) and home runs (41), fifth in slugging (.691) and ninth in hits (271). He was the first Lobo to ever be named All-America three times, and twice he earned Co-Mountain West Player of the Year honors with teammate Mitch Garver.
The Mariners begin spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Peoria, Ariz.