During his childhood, Peterson played sandlot ball in his hometown of Chehalis, Washington and was considered a multi-sport athlete, participating in snowboarding, football, and wrestling. His favorite sport was basketball. Although he received some college interest in football at the end of his high school days, Peterson chose baseball after large improvements to his talents on the diamond. He was noticed by a former baseball scout, Bill Lohr, who began to provide advice for Peterson to improve his baseball skills. Despite helping lead W. F. West High School to two state semifinal appearances, Peterson received little attention from major colleges.[1]
He was released from the Twins organization after the 2010 season. Injuring his right knee during winter league baseball in the Dominican Republic, he signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, where he played in 2011 and 2012. Peterson went on to play 165 games for the Bluefish, where he hit. 285 with 32 homers and 99 RBI thanks in part from the tutelage of his Bluefish manager, retired ballplayer Willie Upshaw.[2]
St. Louis Cardinals
On August 14, 2012, he signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, who assigned him to the AAA Memphis Redbirds. In 2013 with the Redbirds, he hit .296 in 122 games with 25 homers and 86 RBI. His play earned him a spot on the Triple-A all-star team.[2] He participated in the Triple-A Home Run Derby, leading the first round with 7 home runs and finished in 2nd place.
After spending a decade in minor league and independent league baseball, Peterson was called up to the majors for the first time by the Cardinals on July 20, 2013, becoming the 20,469th player in Major League history.[3][2] He made his first appearance that same night, in a losing cause against the San Diego Padres,[3][4] driving in a run in his pinch-hit at-bat with a groundout.[5] He started in left field the following day, collecting his first hit,[2] a pinch-hit RBI single on July 24 against Jake Diekman of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Used largely as a pinch hitter, he went 2 for 26 at the plate during his two-year career with the Cardinals, playing in 23 games; he had two runs scored.[2][6] On November 5, 2013, Peterson was given his outright release by the Cardinals and elected free agency.[6]
Washington Nationals / Los Angeles Dodgers
He then signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, who sent him to the AAA Syracuse Chiefs.[2] He played in 72 games in Syracuse and hit .250. On July 1, 2014 he was sold to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 45 games for the Dodgers AAA team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, he hit .387 with 9 homers and 36 RBI. His slugging percentage reached .671, the highest of his career but his season was derailed after breaking his thumb on a hit-by-pitch. He played briefly afterwards in a Mexican baseball league.[2]
Minnesota Twins
The Twins signed Peterson[2] to a minor league contract on December 22, 2014. He was subsequently released on May 22, 2015.
New York Mets
Signed to Minor League Contract by New York Mets on June 4, 2015, playing for their Double A affiliate.[7][2] He became a free agent on November 6, 2015. Peterson retired that year.[8]
Personal life
After his retirement, Peterson studied finance at Old Dominion University.[8] Peterson was paralyzed from the chest down in a diving accident on July 3, 2021 and undertook rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.[9] A fundraiser accumulated over $100,000 weeks after his injury.[8] As a member of the St. Louis Cardinal's 2013 World Series contending team, Peterson attended the 10-year anniversary of the runner-up achievement at Busch Stadium in 2023.[10]
