John Peck Scouting Report

John Peck Scouting Report

Background: A native of Moorpark, California, John Peck is a right-handed hitting infielder who was a three-year starter at Pepperdine University. He had a terrific sophomore campaign, batting .361/.417/.578 for the Waves. But a rough go in the Cape Cod League and an iffy junior season saw him last until the 7th round of the 2023 draft, where the Tigers took him. He dealt with a few injuries in 2024, but he was a productive player when healthy, batting .280/.360/.402 with 29 steals in 73 games.

Physical description: Peck is listed at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds, and that appears accurate. He’s lithe and athletic, and looks the part of a big-league infielder. At the plate he begins with his hands at head level and an upright, open stance before transitioning into a big leg kick.

Hit: 30

There’s a bit too much going on with Peck’s swing, as his leg kick often leads him to drift toward third base and leaves him vulnerable to breaking balls low and away. He otherwise makes solid swing decisions, handles velocity, and makes a lot of in-zone contact.

Power: 40

Peck swings hard, and as a result he makes a lot of hard contact. But it doesn’t result in many home runs because he sprays the ball all over the field and puts it one the ground far too much. He is capable of hitting home runs to all parts of the field, but he’ll need to change his swing to do that more often.

Run: 55

Peck shows average home-to-first times, but he moves very well underway. He’s a heady, aggressive base stealer who takes advantage of inexperienced batteries. His steal numbers will likely come down at higher levels, but he should nab double-digit bags annually.

Defense: 50

Peck is a quality defender on the left side of the infield, with average range, good hands, and an above-average arm. He would likely be a plus defender at second base. He even moonlighted in the outfield in college, and would like be decent in all three spots.

Arm: 55

Peck shows an above-average arm that lets him make all the necessary throws from shortstop and third base.

Overall: John Peck is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect in the Tigers system. He is theoretically just a swing change away from having average big-league tools across the board. But of course that’s easier said than done, and even if he does refine his swing he’s probably more likely to be a utility man than an everyday regular. But there’s plenty of value in that.