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Jace Peterson: Braves’ 2B Now and in the Future?

By John Buhler

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When the Atlanta Braves made the Justin Upton trade with the San Diego Padres, initially it felt like the Pads got the better end of the deal.  I mean Justin Upton is a Silver Slugger outfielder and playing terrific ball since joining San Diego.  The main piece in that deal for the Braves was LHP Max Fried, a promising Minor Leaguer recovering from Tommy John surgery.  Fried was a high school classmate of Washington’s prized pitching prospect RHP Lucas Giolito.

-= Related: Jace Peterson Has Filled Black Hole at 2B for Braves =-

But the Braves were able to extract even more value in their first deal with the Padres.  The most immediate impact player for Atlanta in this trade was 2B Jace Peterson.  Jace has been a great leadoff hitter and defensive player for the Braves this season.  Even with top prospect Jose Peraza waiting in AAA Gwinnett, is Jace Peterson the Braves’ starting 2B not just now but in the future?

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    • In his first year with the Atlanta Braves, Jace Peterson is hitting .279 with a .350 OBP.  Atlanta has not has this type of production from the leadoff spot since Michael Bourn played for the club in 2011-12.  Peterson has shown some pop for a second baseman with 2 homers and 28 runs batted in.  Though he still needs to work on his base running, at least Jace is fearless on the base path (7 steals on 13 attempts).

    Perhaps what has been most impressive about his approach at the plate is that he hits LHP’s just as well as RHP’s (.279 RHP, .278 LHP).  Having a leadoff man who isn’t affected by a pitcher’s handedness bodes well for a long and lucrative career.  He’s even willing to draw walks (25) as a young player in the Braves lineup.

    So many young Braves before him have been ultra-aggressive in their approach at the plate that opposing pitchers didn’t need to make adjustments.  They got themselves out chasing pitches early in the count.  Jace does strike out (43) but he does have the plate discipline to succeed at the Major League level.

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    But what I see as the major reason Jace stays at second base in the long-term is his defensive prowess, particularly his range.  The former football player at McNeese State gets to just about everything hit to the right side.  He has a strong arm for a 2B and if he works hard at becoming better at receiving the ball near the bag, he could win a Gold Glove in the NL if Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips has a down year.

    Though I cannot wait for Jose Peraza to make it to the big leagues as a hitting machine, I don’t really want to see Peterson out of the lineup and not playing second base.  Peraza reminds me of a Martin Prado type of player who could play multiple positions for the Braves.  So he is learning the outfield in Gwinnett for when the Braves recall him to Atlanta here in the coming weeks.  Peterson and Peraza aren’t mutually exclusive entities as ball players.  They’ll both be in the Braves lineup for a long time.

    Next: Juan Uribe Has Won Braves' Starting 3B Job

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