Brad Peacock

Brad Peacock
Peacock with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2022
Pitcher
Born: (1988-02-02) February 2, 1988 (age 36)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2011, for the Washington Nationals
Last MLB appearance
September 7, 2021, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record34–31
Earned run average4.11
Strikeouts590
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Bradley Joseph Peacock (born February 2, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 207 pounds (94 kg), he throws and bats right-handed.

Amateur career

Peacock attended Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington, Florida. He played for the school's baseball team as a third baseman. Peacock requested that his coach try him at pitcher, and he threw eight innings in high school prior to pitching in a summer league.[1] He committed to attend Florida Atlantic University to play college baseball with the Florida Atlantic Owls.[2]

The Washington Nationals selected Peacock in the 41st round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. They did not immediately sign Peacock, but retained his rights as a "draft-and-follow" player. He enrolled at Palm Beach Community College, and had an 8–0 win–loss record as a starting pitcher for the baseball team.[2]

Professional career

Washington Nationals

Peacock in 2011

After the college baseball season, the Nationals signed Peacock to a $110,000 signing bonus.[2] He spent the 2007 season with the GCL Nationals, Washington's affiliate in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, accruing a record of 1 win and 1 loss and a 3.89 earned run average. Over 39+1⁄3 innings in 2007, consisting of seven starts and six appearances in relief, Peacock struck out a total of 34 batters and issued 15 bases on balls.[citation needed] In 2010, he made eight starts for the Harrisburg Senators of the Double–A Eastern League. After the 2010 season, Peacock played in the Arizona Fall League as a relief pitcher, and his fastball was measured at 97 miles per hour (156 km/h).[1][2]

Baseball America rated Peacock the 42nd best prospect in baseball during the 2011 season.[3] He represented the Nationals at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game.[4] He was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America's 2011 Minor League All Star team.[5]

Peacock began the 2011 season with Harrisburg and also played for the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple–A International League. He was promoted to the majors and made his MLB debut on September 6, 2011.[1] He earned his first major league win on September 14.[6]

Oakland Athletics

On December 23, 2011, Peacock was traded with Tommy Milone, Derek Norris, and A. J. Cole to the Oakland Athletics for Gio González and Robert Gilliam.[7] He pitched for the Sacramento River Cats of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League in 2012, and did not play in the major leagues for the Athletics.

Houston Astros

After the 2012 season, the Athletics traded Peacock to the Houston Astros with Max Stassi and Chris Carter for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez.[8] He spent the entire season at the Triple–A level.

Peacock began the 2013 season at the Triple–A level before being called up by the Astros. He pitched to a 5.18 ERA in 83+1⁄3 innings. In 2014, he pitched a career-high 24 starts (28 games total), finishing 4–9 in 131+2⁄3 innings.

Peacock was out of options in 2017, and so could not be sent to the minor leagues.[9] He began the season as a relief pitcher, with a 1.10 ERA in 16+1⁄3 innings pitched, and received a spot start on May 22 in place of the injured Dallas Keuchel.[10] Following a start in which Peacock allowed one hit and no runs in 4+1⁄3 innings, Peacock replaced Mike Fiers in the starting rotation.[11]

The Astros won the American League West with 101 wins, and faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. In Game 3, Peacock earned his first major league save by completing the final 3+2⁄3 innings of a 5−3 win, allowing no hits and striking out four. It was the longest hitless relief outing since Ron Taylor's four innings in Game 4 of the 1964 World Series, and tied Ken Clay for the longest hitless postseason save, first accomplished in the 1978 American League Championship Series (ALCS).[12] The Astros would then win the 2017 World Series, their first in franchise history.[13]

Peacock in 2018

In 2018, Peacock pitched the whole season out of the bullpen, totaling 61 appearances. He struck out 96 batters in 65 innings. He was 3–5 with three saves and had a 3.46 ERA.

On May 8, 2019, Peacock threw a career-high 12 strikeouts in 7 innings against the Kansas City Royals. In 2019 he was 7–6 with a 4.12 ERA, and struck out 96 batters in 91+2⁄3 innings. Peacock only appeared in 3 games for the Astros in 2020, registering a 7.71 ERA with 3 strikeouts in 2+1⁄3 innings of work.[14] He became a free agent after the season.

Cleveland Indians

On June 25, 2021, the Cleveland Indians signed Peacock to a minor-league contract.[15] He was assigned to the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A East. Peacock made 11 appearances for Columbus, going 0–4 with a 7.68 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 34 innings.[16]

Boston Red Sox

On August 30, 2021, Peacock was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.[17] The following day, the Red Sox selected Peacock's contract;[18] he started that evening's game against the Tampa Bay Rays,[19] taking the loss after allowing five runs on two hits in 2+1⁄3 innings.[20] He was subsequently returned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox and removed from the 40-man roster.[21] He made two relief appearances with Worcester; in two innings pitched, he allowed three runs while striking out three batters.[16] On November 7, Peacock elected free agency.[22]

Kansas City Royals

On March 8, 2022, Peacock signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[23] On July 18, he was released by the Royals.

Minnesota Twins

On July 29, 2022, Peacock signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. In 20 appearances for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, he posted a 3-3 record and 3.38 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 8 saves across 21+1⁄3 innings pitched. Peacock elected free agency following the season on November 10.[24]

Coaching career

On March 12, 2024, Peacock was hired to serve as the pitching coach at his alma mater, Palm Beach Central High School.[25]

Personal life

Peacock's father, Jerry, converted a trailer into a camper in order to follow Brad in the minor leagues.[26] Peacock and his wife, Stephanie, had a son in June 2017.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kilgore, Adam (February 25, 2011). "Brad Peacock, possible Stephen Strasburg stand-in". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Morrow, Geoff (April 7, 2011). "2011 Harrisburg Senators preview: RHP Brad Peacock an unlikely addition to Nationals' organization". PennLive.com. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Midseason Top 50 Prospects List". Baseballamerica.com. July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  4. ^ Ladson, Bill (July 10, 2011). "Peacock excited to take part in Futures Game". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Cooper, J.J.; Eddy, Matt (September 16, 2011). "2011 Minor League All-Star Team". Baseball America. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011.
  6. ^ "Former Palm Beach Central star Brad Peacock earns first major-lea". Palmbeachpost.com. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Nationals acquire All-Star lefthander Gio González from Athletics as part of six-player trade". Nationals.com. December 23, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  8. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (February 4, 2013). "Athletics Acquire Jed Lowrie In Five-Player Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Sattell, Glenn (January 20, 2016). "Brad Peacock on Spring Training near home". M.astros.mlb.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  10. ^ Kaplan, Jake (May 20, 2017). "Brad Peacock to start for Astros on Monday - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  11. ^ Kaplan, Jake (May 27, 2017). "Brad Peacock replaces Mike Fiers in Astros' rotation for Twins series - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  12. ^ Justice, Richard (October 28, 2017). "Peacock's relief performance a Series classic: Astros righty delivers 3 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings for first career save". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  13. ^ McTaggart, Brian; Gurnick, Ken. "Houston Astros win 2017 World Series". MLB. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  14. ^ Gleinser, Andrew (August 25, 2020). "Astros: Brad Peacock getting lost in the shuffle this year". climbingtalshill.com. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  15. ^ Franco, Anthony (June 25, 2021). "Indians To Sign Brad Peacock". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Brad Peacock Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  17. ^ Franco, Anthony (August 30, 2021). "Red Sox Acquire Brad Peacock From Indians". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  18. ^ Franco, Anthony (August 31, 2021). "Red Sox Select Brad Peacock, Stephen Gonsalves". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  19. ^ Mahoney, Andrew (August 31, 2021). "Game 134: Red Sox go with Brad Peacock on the mound against Rays". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "Red Sox vs. Rays - Box Score". ESPN.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  21. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "Brad Peacock Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  23. ^ Rieper, Max (March 8, 2022). "Royals sign pitcher Brad Peacock to a minor league deal". Royals Review. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  25. ^ Palm Beach Central High School Baseball [@PBCHSbaseball] (March 12, 2024). "Not too many high school baseball players can say they get called out of the bullpen by a coach who has pitched in, and won, the World Series. PBC alumni (2006), Brad Peacock, is back at PBC this season as a pitching coach. We're truly learning from one of the best!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2025 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Capozzi, Joe (September 21, 2011). "Wellington man used no-frills style to follow son Brad Peacock — now a big-leaguer — through minors". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017 – via Wayback Machine.
  27. ^ Hlavaty, Craig (June 26, 2017). "Astros pitcher Brad Peacock and wife Stephanie announce birth of son". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 4, 2018.