Tristan Peters invited to Rays' MLB camp
Okotoks Dawgs alum Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) has been invited to the Tampa Bay Rays’ big league spring training camp. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs
February 2, 2023
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Canadian outfielder Tristan Peters has been invited to the Tampa Bay Rays’ big league camp this spring, according to Marc Topkin of the The Tampa Bay Times.
Peters, an Okotok Dawgs alum, who hails from Winkler, Man., is the second Canuck to receive a big league invite from the Rays in the past two weeks. Former Terriers right-hander Trevor Brigden (North York, Ont.) will also be in Rays’ camp.
It’s been a whirlwind six months for the 22-year-old Peters. After parts of two seasons in the Brewers’ organization, Peters was dealt to the San Francisco Giants on August 2 for reliever Trevor Rosenthal. After completing the 2022 campaign with the Giants’ double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, Peters was dealt to the Rays for infield prospect Brett Wisely on November 15.
In 124 games, split between High-A and double-A in the Brewers and Giants organizations in 2022, Peters batted .279 with a .363 on-base percentage (OBP). He had eight home runs, nine triples, 60 walks and 18 stolen bases.
It was his first full pro season after being selected in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Brewers. Peters made his pro debut with the Brewers’ Rookie-Ball Arizona Complex League club in 2021 and registered a .346 OBP, with two triples, a home run and six stolen bases in 13 games.
As a teenager, the speedy left-handed hitting outfielder honed his skills with Team Manitoba before he landed with the Okotoks Dawgs Academy. He played one game for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Okotoks Dawgs in 2018, before enjoying a breakout campaign with them in 2019. That season, he topped the WCBL with a .397 batting average, belted 12 home runs and stole 13 bases in 52 games. For his efforts, he was named the circuit’s Canadian Rookie of the Year and playoff MVP.
Peters began his collegiate career with the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Coyotes in 2019. The following year, he received All-American honours when he batted .354 with 13 stolen bases in a pandemic-shortened season.
In 2021, he moved on the the Southern Illinois Salukis, who compete at the NCAA Div. I level. In 60 games that year, he batted .355 and topped the Missouri Valley Conference in hits (77), doubles (20) and walks (46). His performance earned him First-Team All-Canadian honours and All Missouri Valley Conference Second Team Honours.
Peters is rated the 20th best prospect in the Rays’ organization by MLB Pipeline.