Over the last five months, White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters has become a father for the first time, a regular for a contending team, hit for the cycle and been named to the American League All-Star team.
Not bad for a guy who wasn’t sure he’d make the Sox out of spring training.
“Just incredible blessings, and it’s freaky,” Peters said.
Before the Sox’ game against the Athletics on Saturday, Peters was added to the AL team as an injury replacement for A’s slugger Nick Kurtz. Peters, whose major-league resume before this year was four games for the 2025 Rays, has solidified the Sox lineup with strong defense and surprisingly potent bat, accounting for 3.0 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference).
And thanks to his wife Erin, Peters has balanced the life of a big-league ballplayer with the responsibilities of raising their 4 1/2-month-old daughter Elaine.
“She’s the real hero in this situation,” Peters said. “I’m just so proud of her and she’s just such an amazing mom. I thank her for that.”
The Sox are also glad to have Peters, who is joining Miguel Vargas and Munetaka Murakami on the AL team.
A member of the Savannah Bananas college amateur team in 2021 – though before the company went full Banana Ball – Peters has had to work his way up the baseball chain. Drafted by the Brewers in 2021, Peters was traded to the Giants a year later. He ended up in the Tampa Bay system for three seasons and was dealt to the Sox in December for cash or a player to be named later.
That perseverance has helped him with the Sox. Manager Will Venable said he’s been impressed by how Peters works, which has allowed him to become one of the Sox’ most pleasant surprises.
“Kind of came out of nowhere, right?” Venable said. “We liked him enough to acquire him but he’s exceeding expectations and done it in a way that you really root for the guy because he’s worked so hard.”
The rewards are coming pretty quick.
On Friday, Peters became the first Sox player to hit for the cycle since 2017. Then a day later, he was named an All-Star.
“Yeah, I mean it’s surreal. It doesn’t feel real at the moment,” Peters said. “I mean I can’t believe this is all happening. It feels like all at once. I’m just so grateful. I mean it’s been some of the most fun I’ve had playing baseball with this team, and I’m looking forward to the second half, too.”
Before getting the All-Star news, Peters was going to spend the break at a rented lake house about an hour away. Those plans changed, and now the Peters family will be in Philadelphia.
Peters said Erin was excited when she was told Saturday morning, despite being in bed and resting because Elaine had been “giving her a tough time.”
“She was so pumped,” Peters said. “Probably more than me.”