John Peck is a junior from Moorpark, California, on the Pepperdine baseball team. He started all 85 games in which he played in the previous two seasons, and earned All-WCC first team honors as a sophomore last season. He spent the summer playing in the prestigious Cape Cod League and his team, the Bourne Braves, won the championship. Last season he led the team and ranked second in the WCC in batting average (.361). In this interview Peck speaks on his hopes for the team, his summer in the Cape Cod League, and his transition into a leadership role this season.
 
Q: What makes athletics at Pepperdine special?
 
A: The overall culture and atmosphere at Pepperdine is really special. Everybody here wants to win and be the right person off the field, so I take pride in that. The baseball program and the coaches are a big reason why I chose to be here.
 
Q: How is the team looking so far this year?
 
A: We're looking good this year. We have a good freshman class that joined us this fall, so it should be a fun season.
 
Q: Last year as a sophomore you were one of the best players on the team. What do you do to grow between seasons?
 
A: I don't do anything too special. I just do everything I can to stay consistent, putting in that extra work at practice and away from the field. I just do everything I can to be the best. Hopefully this season will look pretty similar to the success I had last year. As a team we want to win more this season, so I'm just going to do everything I can to help us get there and win.
 
Q: Your team in the Cape Cod League won the championship this summer. What does that mean to you and do you plan to play there again next summer?
 
A: That was a pretty big moment for me. It was just good for me to see what a winning team like that looks like. Hopefully I can bring some stuff back from that to here. I believe I'll be playing in that same league this summer again, but I'm not sure yet at this point. Hopefully I can, that'd be great.
 
Q: In an interview with Nolan Lingley last June he mentioned that the team culture is one of the biggest things that needed to improve this season. How is the team culture looking this season?
 
A: The culture so far is looking awesome this year. I would say that the freshmen, we brought them in, took them under our wing, and they're fitting in really well. We're looking good as a team, and we're all getting along well. It should be fun to have the new guys on the team this year and in the years to come.
 
Q: Where do you think the team still needs to grow on and off the field?
 
A: There's absolutely always room for further improvement. I think that we will do everything we can to dial that culture in before the season starts in the spring. There's always room for improvement there, just like there is on the field offensively, defensively. There is always room to get better in every aspect. We're putting work in everyday as a team to get better.
 
Q: In that interview with Nolan last year he predicted you as a leader for this year. Do you feel you have become a leader for the team?
 
A: I believe I have kind of transitioned into more of a leader this season. Especially with the freshman class coming in. I am not a very vocal guy, but I lead by example and that's something I take a lot of pride in.
 
Q: Have you changed anything about your mindset or attitude to become a leader for the team?
 
A: Not really. I haven't changed much. We as a team just have to hold each other accountable, and that's part of leadership now for me. We have to be not only good players and good teammates, but good people off the field as well. We have to just do the right thing.