Michael Peterson Claimed Via Waivers, Takes Roster Spot at Expense of Another ex-Dodgers Prospect
The Miami Marlins have bolstered their roster by claiming pitcher Michael Petersen off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old right-hander was caught in a roster crunch and the Dodgers designated him for assignment on Sunday.
Coincidentally, another former Dodgers prospect — Brett de Geus — was designated for assignment to make room for Peterson on the Marlins’ 40-man roster.
Petersen made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on June 18 after signing a minor league contract in January. During his three stints with Los Angeles this season, he recorded a 6.43 ERA across 11 appearances, striking out 11 batters while giving up eight walks and three home runs over 14 innings.
Before joining Los Angeles on a minor league contract he had spent his previous years in the farm systems of the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies.
While Petersen’s short stint in the majors didn’t make a huge impact, he was outstanding with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, posting a 1.64 ERA with an impressive 35.2 percent strikeout rate and a solid 6.4 percent walk rate over 33 relief innings.
The towering 6-foot-7 right-hander from Great Britain features a four-seam fastball that averages 97 mph, paired with a cutter in the upper 80s. He is currently in the first of three option years, as the 2024 season was the first time his contract was selected to a major league roster.
Petersen was born in Middlesex, a county in southeastern England that incorporates London, and became the first United Kingdom-born player to appear in a game for the Dodgers.
Petersen’s father, Randall, a native of California, met his mother, Maureen, during a business trip to her home country of Nigeria. The two later reconnected in London, where they began their family. Petersen spent his first year in London before the family relocated to California, where he was raised, primarily in the northern part of the state, as a Giants fan.
He was first selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif., but he chose not to sign.
He was drafted each year from 2012-15, eventually signing with the Brewers after being selected in the 17th round of the 2015 draft. In 2019, the Rockies acquired Petersen from the Brewers during the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
Petersen appeared in 23 games for the Rockies’ Double-A affiliate in 2023.
He was a non-roster invite to Dodger Spring Training camp this season.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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