Peter O'Brien (outfielder)

Peter Robert O'Brien (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional baseball left fielder for the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins.

Peter O'Brien
O'Brien with the Florida Marlins in 2018
Pericos de Puebla – No. 72
Left fielder
Born: (1990-07-15) July 15, 1990
Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 2015, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Career statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs11
Runs batted in26
Teams

Amateur career

O'Brien attended G. Holmes Braddock High School in Miami, Florida.[1] He played for the school's baseball team, and transitioned to catcher during his senior year. Unselected in the 2008 MLB draft, O'Brien chose to enroll at Bethune–Cookman University, where he played college baseball for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).[2] In 2010, he was named MEAC player of the year.[3] After the 2010 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4][5]

The Colorado Rockies selected O'Brien in the third round of the 2011 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign, and instead transferred to the University of Miami for his senior year, where he played for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[6] He was named All-ACC for the 2012 season.[7]

Professional career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected O'Brien in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft, and O'Brien signed with the Yankees.[8] O'Brien started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Yankees and after four games was promoted to the Staten Island Yankees.[9] He finished his first season hitting .212/.256/.401 with 10 home runs and 34 runs batted in. O'Brien started the 2013 season with the Charleston RiverDogs.[10] On June 21, 2013, he was promoted to the Tampa Yankees.[11] After the 2013 season, he competed in the Arizona Fall League.[12]

O'Brien began the 2014 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Yankees traded O'Brien to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Martín Prado on July 31, 2014.[13] The Diamondbacks assigned him to the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League. After the 2014 season, the Diamondbacks assigned O'Brien to the Arizona Fall League.[14] The Diamondbacks assigned O'Brien to the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 2015, and converted him into an outfielder.[15] On July 14, 2015, O'Brien participated in the Triple A Homerun Derby. He finished in second place with a total of 20 home runs.[16]

O'Brien made his major league debut on September 11, 2015, at Chase Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 1-for-1 and drove in his first run while pinch hitting for pitcher Enrique Burgos. His first hit was a ground ball single up the middle to center field, coming off of Ian Thomas. He drove in shortstop Nick Ahmed on the hit.[17] O'Brien was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on December 23, 2016.[18]

Kansas City Royals

The Diamondbacks traded O'Brien to the Kansas City Royals for minor leaguer Sam Lewis.[19] Following the Royals Spring Training camp, O'Brien was sent back to the minors and briefly played for the Omaha Storm Chasers of the PCL, before he was designated for assignment on May 10, 2017.[20]

Cincinnati Reds

On May 16, 2017, the Cincinnati Reds claimed O'Brien off of waivers and assigned him to the Louisville Bats of the Triple-A International League.[21] He played in five games for Louisville, and was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on May 25.[22]

Texas Rangers

On May 27, 2017, the Texas Rangers claimed O'Brien off waivers.[23] After playing in 16 games for the Triple-A Round Rock Express and Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, O'Brien was again designated for assignment on June 17, 2017, when Ernesto Frieri was selected to the roster.[24]

Los Angeles Dodgers

O'Brien was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 18, 2017.[25] After hitting .219/.297/.465 in 45 games for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, O'Brien was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on July 31.[26] He was outrighted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on August 3.

Miami Marlins

On May 31, 2018, O'Brien was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations.[27] O'Brien had his contract selected on September 4, 2018. He hit 4 home runs with 10 RBI in 22 games for the Marlins in 2018. After hitting .167/.255/.262 in 14 games to start the year, on June 20, 2019, O'Brien was designated for assignment. He spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A with the New Orleans Baby Cakes and elected free agency on October 15, 2019.

Atlanta Braves

On December 16, 2019, O'Brien signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[28] O’Brien was released by the Braves organization on August 16, 2020.

Toros de Tijuana

On April 27, 2021, O'Brien signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.[29] In 60 games, he hit .258/.303/.554 with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs. O'Brien hit a go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the Serie del Rey, which culminated in a 3–0 win and the Toros' second league championship.

Pericos de Puebla

On December 24, 2021, O'Brien was traded to the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League in exchange for a player to be named later.[30] O'Brien played in 85 games for Puebla in 2022, hitting .298/.375/.676 with 32 home runs and 78 RBI.[31]

Personal life

O'Brien was born and raised in Miami Gardens, Florida. His mother, Mercedes, immigrated from Cuba and was a former dancer in the Cuban National Ballet. His father, Terry, is an American former college baseball player. O'Brien is bilingual and learned Spanish as his first language.[32]

References
  1. "Yankees watching as Charleston RiverDogs catcher Peter O'Brien grows into position". Post and Courier. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  2. "Fast-rising catcher to show wares at Urban Invy". Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  3. "Wildcats' Peter O'Brien MEAC Player of the Year". Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. "Peter OBrien". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. "O'Brien may go higher than expected in Draft". Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  7. "Miami Hurricanes star baseball player Peter O'Brien uncertain for Regional". miamiherald. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  8. "Peter O'Brien: From the U to the Yanks". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  9. Staten Island Advance file photo by Hilton Flores (July 8, 2012). "Good beginning for new Staten Island Yankee Peter O'Brien". Silive.com. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  10. "Yankees watching as Charleston RiverDogs catcher Peter O'Brien grows into position". Postandcourier.com. June 4, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  11. "O'Brien and Smith Promoted to High-A Tampa". Live5news.com. June 22, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  12. "O'Brien crowned champ at Bowman Hitting Challenge". MLB.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  13. "D-backs acquire Peter O'Brien from Yankees for Martin Prado". Arizona Diamondbacks. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  14. Nick Piecoro, azcentral sports (October 22, 2014). "D-Backs prospect Peter O'Brien used to catching flak". Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  15. Baer, Bill (May 31, 2015). "Diamondbacks confirm prospect Peter O'Brien is now a full-time outfielder | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  16. "Peter O'Brien finishes 2nd in Triple-A home run derby". July 14, 2015.
  17. "September 11th Diamondbacks/Dodgers Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  18. Adams, Steve (December 23, 2016). "Diamondbacks Claim Juan Graterol, Designate Peter O'Brien For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  19. "D-backs deal slugger O'Brien to Royals". MiLB.com. January 3, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  20. Doddrdodd, Rustin (May 10, 2017). "KC Royals DFA Christian Colon, Peter O'Brien, add Seth Maness, Al Alburquerque to roster | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  21. "Reds claim first baseman Peter O'Brien from Kansas City". Daytondailynews.com. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  22. "Reds Claim Jake Buchanan, Designate Peter O'Brien".
  23. http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article153054559.html
  24. "Rangers Place Andrew Cashner on DL, Designate Peter O'Brien".
  25. Byrne, Connor (June 18, 2017). "Dodgers Claim Peter O'Brien, Designate Jason Wheeler". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  26. Minami, Craig (July 31, 2017). "Dodgers acquire left-handed reliever Tony Watson from Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers". SB Nation. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  27. Adams, Steve (June 1, 2018). "Marlins Acquire Peter O'Brien". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  28. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  29. "SE PREPARA PARA HACER TRONAR SU MADERO EN TIJUANA". torosdetijuana.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  30. "Peter O'Brien se convierte en el primer refuerzo emplumado de cara a la campaña 2022". pericosdepuebla.com (in Spanish). Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  31. "Tigres: "Nuestra meta es el campeonato", Jesse García".
  32. Buchanan, Zach (March 14, 2015). "A better life: A catcher, his mom and Cuba". azcentral.com. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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