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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on OF Dustin Peterson

By Benjamin Chase

Nov 2, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters outfielder Dustin Peterson of the Atlanta Braves against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters outfielder Dustin Peterson of the Atlanta Braves against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters outfielder Dustin Peterson of the Atlanta Braves against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Salt River Rafters outfielder Dustin Peterson of the Atlanta Braves against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves prospect Dustin Peterson really caught the eye of a lot of people with his performance in AA in 2016. Could he contribute in Atlanta in 2017?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves first acquired Peterson as part of the Justin Upton trade in the 2014-2015 offseason.

Peterson was originally drafted by the Padres in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft out of high school in Arizona, the same season his brother was the 12th overall selection by the Seattle Mariners coming out of college.

Drafted originally as a third baseman, Peterson played in 2013 in the Arizona Rookie League, hitting .293/.337/.344 with no home runs, but 3 steals in 172 plate appearances. He did make 14 errors in just 31 games in the field.

Peterson was promoted all the way to full season ball with the low-A Midwest League team in Fort Wayne in 2014. He struggled both at the plate and in the field, hitting .233/.274/.361 with 10 home runs and a stolen base over 563 plate appearances with a 25/137 BB/K ratio. He also made 38 errors at third base over 101 games in the field.

The Braves acquired Peterson along with Max Fried, Jace Peterson, and Mallex Smith in exchange for sending Justin Upton and Aaron Northcraft.

Peterson was moved by Braves brass to left field and took well to it. The Braves assigned Peterson to high-A Carolina, and he was yet another victim in performance of the Carolina Mudcats bus crash.

Before the bus crash, Peterson was hitting .314/.392/.448 with 3 home runs, 2 stolen bases, and a 14/21 BB/K ratio over 120 plate appearances. He was having the type of breakout season that would have put him on the radar of many Braves fans after the 2015 season.

Instead, after 2 1/2 weeks away from the team, he struggled upon his return and never looked fully healthy the rest of 2015, hitting .232/.294/.317 the rest of the way with 5 home runs, 4 stolen bases, and a 30/70 BB/K ratio over 378 plate appearances.

Combined, his 2015 line was .251/.317/.348 with 8 home runs and 6 stolen bases along with a 44/91 BB/K ratio over 498 plate appearances.

Peterson showed enough in 2015 when healthy to convince the Braves to send him to AA Mississippi in 2016. In one of the most difficult parks in the minor leagues on hitters, Peterson hit .282/.343/.431 with 12 home runs and 4 stolen bases. He also clubbed 38 doubles and 2 triples for 52 total extra bases. He had a 45/100 BB/K ratio over 578 plate appearances.

Next: Peterson's scouting report

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