Photo by: Jerry Harris
Former Waves Baseball Player John Peck Gets the Call of a Lifetime
8/31/2026 7:32:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - John Peck, a 2023 alum of Pepperdine baseball, became the 41st former Wave to reach Major League Baseball after being called up by the Detroit Tigers. The transaction was announced by Detroit on Monday afternoon.
Peck spent the last three-and-a-half seasons in the minor league system, most recently with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He was having a stellar season with the Erie Seawolves at the Double-A level before being transferred to Toledo on June 23. The injury bug bit him two days later as he landed on the seven-day injured list June 25 and wasn't reinstated until August 25. Just four days later, he received a call to the big leagues.
Peck was outstanding throughout his minor league career, regardless of the level he was playing at. He hit .288 in 1,053 at-bats while getting on-base at a solid .356 clip. More of a contact hitter, Peck still crushed 25 homers and posted an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .789, well above the minor league average of .718.
Monday night, Peck was a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Tigers faced a sizable deficit against the Minnesota Twins. It didn't take for him to get in on the action, as he chipped in on a force out. Tigers manager AJ Hinch said prior to Monday's contest that Peck will get the start at shortstop for Tuesday's and Wednesday's game, per MLB.com's Jason Beck and Patrick Donnelly.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE BASEBALL
Pepperdine baseball has one of the richest traditions and success stories among mid-major baseball programs in the country. The Waves won the NCAA National Championship in 1992 and have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in total. Located in scenic Malibu, California, Eddy D. Field Stadium boasts one of the most remarkable views in college baseball and has seen 35 former Waves reach the MLB while seeing 41 All-American selections.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine baseball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineBASE on Twitter/X, @pepperdinebase on Instagram, and Pepperdine Baseball on Facebook.
Peck spent the last three-and-a-half seasons in the minor league system, most recently with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He was having a stellar season with the Erie Seawolves at the Double-A level before being transferred to Toledo on June 23. The injury bug bit him two days later as he landed on the seven-day injured list June 25 and wasn't reinstated until August 25. Just four days later, he received a call to the big leagues.
Peck was outstanding throughout his minor league career, regardless of the level he was playing at. He hit .288 in 1,053 at-bats while getting on-base at a solid .356 clip. More of a contact hitter, Peck still crushed 25 homers and posted an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .789, well above the minor league average of .718.
The shortstop was named WCC All-League First Team in 2022 and All-League Second Team in 2023. He paced the Waves by smacking 60 hits while hitting an otherworldly .361 average and swiping seven bases in 2022. Peck is among a group of six players, including 2006 alum and current Boston Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy, that are tied for the program's single-game record with two triples, which occurred on February 22, 2022. Peck also led Pepperdine in steals (8), at-bats (202), and triples (3) in 2023 before being picked in the seventh round (No. 200 overall) by the Tigers in the 2023 MLB Draft. Peck was part of a loaded draft at the shortstop position that included the likes of Jacob Wilson, Matt Shaw, Colt Emerson, Cooper Pratt, and Peck's new teammate in Kevin McGonigle.WELCOME TO THE SHOW, JOHN PECK‼️⚾️
— Pepperdine Baseball (@PepperdineBASE) September 1, 2026
The 2023 alum becomes the 41st Wave to reach the big leagues.@tigers got a good one!#MakeWaves | #WavesInThePros | @PepperdineWaves pic.twitter.com/NPKw8kyU5G
Monday night, Peck was a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Tigers faced a sizable deficit against the Minnesota Twins. It didn't take for him to get in on the action, as he chipped in on a force out. Tigers manager AJ Hinch said prior to Monday's contest that Peck will get the start at shortstop for Tuesday's and Wednesday's game, per MLB.com's Jason Beck and Patrick Donnelly.
To see a comprehensive list of Waves in the pros, click here.Welcome to The Show, John! pic.twitter.com/H3Ga86uGcS
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 31, 2026
ABOUT PEPPERDINE BASEBALL
Pepperdine baseball has one of the richest traditions and success stories among mid-major baseball programs in the country. The Waves won the NCAA National Championship in 1992 and have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in total. Located in scenic Malibu, California, Eddy D. Field Stadium boasts one of the most remarkable views in college baseball and has seen 35 former Waves reach the MLB while seeing 41 All-American selections.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine baseball news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineBASE on Twitter/X, @pepperdinebase on Instagram, and Pepperdine Baseball on Facebook.
