Tai Peete’s first pro two homers are grand, indeed
Despite simply turning 18 this month, Tai Peete has already performed in plenty of vital baseball video games. He starred within the 2018 Little League World Series and performed on the Team USA circuit earlier than the Mariners drafted him thirtieth total in July.
But none of these video games can examine to what he did for Single-A Modesto on Sunday evening.
With the Nuts trailing by as many as eight runs to the San Jose Giants, Peete hit two grand slams to guide Modesto to a 13-12 extra-inning win that accomplished a six-game sweep at Excite Ballpark.
They had been the primary two house runs of his nascent skilled profession. And they had been additionally his first multihomer recreation of any type.
“The first one, I saw [right-hander Luis Moreno] shook off, so I’m usually expecting something here. I got a good barrel to it,” stated the Mariners’ Tenth-ranked prospect. “After I got that one, my second at-bat afterwards [against lefty Tommy Kane], I was just thinking, ‘base hit.’ I don’t want to do too much. But in the back of my mind, I’m just thinking, ‘Swing out your shoes. Might as well. The time is now to do it. Might as well swing out your shoes.’ That’s what I did, and my team had my back on it. It’s a moment I’ll probably never forget. … Nothing really compares to what just happened.”
Peete was well-known for his energy heading into the 2023 Draft and had bat velocity on par with any prep hitter in his class. The Georgia native placed on a energy show within the MLB Draft Combine too, however most of his success in professional ball earlier than Sunday revolved extra round consistency than energy.
After going 13-for 37 (.351) with a triple and a double within the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Peete rapidly earned a promotion to Single-A. He picked up 5 hits in his first three Modesto video games, two of which had been doubles.
To see him faucet into his above-average energy on the sector in such dramatic style was a welcome sight for Modesto and Seattle.
“He’s been awesome,” Nuts supervisor Zach Vincej stated. “He’s bringing a lot of energy for us. He seems like he’s very in tune with what he needs to do at the plate. He has a good approach. He’s the kind of guy that’s going to find barrels and can put the ball in play. He’s been fun to watch the last few days.”
With solely 12 extra video games left within the California League’s common season, Peete would not have any extra on-field objectives for his first skilled season. But he is studying lots in regards to the worth of constructing routines, from morning schedules to pregame work to restoration.
Vincej likes to remind his gamers, who’re taking part in in full-season ball for the primary time, that he is not apprehensive about outcomes. The group has proven its excessive regard for Peete, from how extremely he was drafted to how rapidly he was promoted. Vincej desires to see gamers working arduous and being good teammates — though a pair of grand slams would not harm both.
“I like it here,” Peete stated. “Especially doing it with some of my close friends. I’m growing relationships, and one of the more important things is establishing good relationships with your teammates. On the baseball side of it, everything from here just gets easier. You start moving up and you start getting in routines, getting more consistent, that’s something I’m for sure working on as I go up.”
