Promotions and Lauding: D.J. Peterson Prompting Praise

D.J. Peterson has gotten quite a few pieces of good news over recent hours. First and foremost the Mariners’ 2013 First round draft pick was named to the U.S. team for the 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures game.

This news came on the heels of his promotion from Class A advanced High Desert the Mariners Double-A affiliate: the Jackson Generals. This move doesn’t surprise most Mariners fans. In fact, many wanted it to happen sooner than later.

Peterson was hitting a robust .326 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI in 65 games so far this season.

Peterson’s climb through the Mariners system was slowed at the end of last season when a baseball broke his jaw, leading to season ending surgery. But the times he’s been on the field are nothing short of spectacular. Such spectacular offense has prompted many fans to ask: when will we see D.J. in the Majors?

Don’t expect it to be this season.

The way it looks today Peterson will likely finish out the season in Double-A Jackson. If he continues his torrid hitting throughout his stay, expect him to start the 2015 campaign in Jackson and be promoted to Triple-A Tacoma in the early months of the season. And when (or ‘if’ if you are a realist) the Mariners are making a run at the playoffs, Peterson will be a September call-up to provide depth and pop off the bench.

Finally, we should all expect– barring setbacks– Peterson to be an everyday Mariners come 2016.

The biggest question that comes with Peterson, though, is his position on the diamond. He’s a third baseman, but Kyle Seager seems to have that position locked up for the near future– there will be a post coming soon on why the Mariners should have given him a contract extension, like, yesterday. So where does Peterson fit? It seems Justin Smoak‘s reign in Seattle is nearing its end, which would open up first base for the young slugger.

The Mariners could also try to work him in the corner outfield. But for the time being first base seems the most prudent decision.

What do you think about D.J. Peterson? Will he be a Mariner someday or be used as trade bait as the deadline approaches? Should he take over for Seager or usurp first base from Smoak?