For 356 games over three and one-half seasons, Jace Peterson was Mr. Super-Utility for the Atlanta Braves. Fans loved him because he was always available to sign autographs and take pictures with them, and because on the field, he gave it everything he had every game.
Jace Peterson Atlanta Brave
The Atlanta Braves acquired Jace Peterson in the trade that brought Max Fried to Atlanta. He was the Braves starting second baseman in 2015 and played half the season there in 2016, splitting the rest at third and, for the first time in his career, in the outfield.
In a 21-game stretch from June 10 through July 2, 2016, Peterson reached base in 20 of 21 games, failing to get a hit when entering as pinch hitter in the ninth inning. Over those games, Jace went 28- 78, including six doubles and three homers, batted .359/.421/.551/.972, and drove in 11 runs. He finished the season batting .254/.350/.366/.715, including 23 doubles, six triples, and six homers.
In 2017, the Braves used him as a role player off the bench, and after the arrival of Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, and John Camargo, he usually played left field. When the season ended, the Atlanta Braves infield depth meant he was excess to their needs, and they nontendered him.
Life After Atlanta
Peterson signed with the Yankees in January 2018, but the Yankees put him on waivers in April, and the Orioles claimed him. He returned to Baltimore in 2019, moved to the Brewers in 2020, and played there through 2022.
At 33, Jace was now veteran bench depth. He’d appeared in postseason play with Milwaukee in 2020 and 2021 but had never appeared in a World Series game, something he felt unlikely this season when he signed with Oakland to start this season. Everything changed when the Diamondbacks acquired him at the deadline and veteran bench depth,
You’ve Got A Friend
Peterson didn’t appear in the Wildcard Series, made it into two NLDS games, but wasn’t on the NLCS roster against the Phillies. Arizona added him to the World Series roster, but he wasn’t hitting well and knew his chances there was little chance he’d play. Enter Tommy Pham.
According to Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic($), Arizona’s DH for the night approached manager Torey Lovullo in the bottom of the eighth and made a request.
"I need you to get my boy an AB"Tommy Pham
Pham was referring to utilityman Jace Peterson…Pham, 35, and Peterson, 33, are playing in their first World Series. Pham, due to bat second in the ninth, wanted to make sure Peterson got at least one at-bat so he could forever say he played in a World Series…
On the surface, Pham's gesture looks like a cool thing to do, but the D’Backs were well on top, so it wasn’t that big a deal, was it? Well, yes, it was. Pham was 4-4 and had a choice to join Molitor and Pujols as the only players to go 5-5 in a World Series.
Lovullo asked if Pham was 100% sure, and Pham said he was. Lovullo said he’d do it as long as the lead held up. Texas didn’t score, Jace reached on a fielder’s choice and scored. Pham said after the game that he didn’t know about the record, but it wouldn’t have mattered.
"Tommy Pham
Me and Jace are cool...I had to get my dawg in."
Peterson told reporters after the game that things like this happen more often than fans know, but he would always remember what Pham did for him.
That’s A Wrap
Pham and Peterson look at this World Series as the only one they’re guaranteed. They’re savoring it, enjoying every minute of it, and trying to mentally capture every sight and sound.
They know how fortunate they are to get to a World Series when so many players never get a taste. Perhaps that’s something we should remember as well.
Contrary to some individuals who call themselves fans say, no player coach or umpire with a chance to take part in a World Series is giving less than everything there is to give.
On Sunday I said, "Jace on Base!" and it felt good. I hope he gets another AB or two,