Peacock gives Astros a boost
PB Central High grad still flourishing after helping Houston win first title.
Since making his major league debut in 2011 with Washington, Brad Peacock has returned to Florida several times with the Nationals and the Houston Astros.
However, when the Astros visit Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg today through Sunday for a fourgame series with the Tampa Bay Rays, it will mark the West Palm Beach native’s first regular-season trip to the Sunshine State as a world champion.
Last season, Peacock, 30, was a workhouse for the Astros, appearing in 34 games (21 starts) and going 13-2 with a 3.00 ERA. The Palm Beach Central product also appeared in seven playoff games
for Houston, which won its first World Series by eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
And Peacock truly saved his best for last, pitching well in his four World Series appearances (0-0, 2.45 ERA, 1 save). “It was awesome to help the team go to the World Series and win it,” he said.
Like many big leaguers fresh off winning their first championship, that unmatched euphoria is a feeling he hopes to experience again in 2018 as Houston looks to become baseball’s first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three straight titles between 1998 and 2000.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had playing baseball. The play
were a pretty cool experience,” Peacock said. “I’m sure all of us want to get back and do that again. Whatever they need me to do (starting or relieving), I’m happy to do it for them. Whatever it takes to get back to the play
and help out, it doesn’t matter to me, just happy to be here.”
It gives Astros manager AJ Hinch peace of mind to know that Peacock, who was 10-2 as a starter with a 3.22 ERA and 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA as a reliever in 2017, is in his bullpen helping to anchor his relief corps.
Hinch also likes Peacock’s versatility as a team-first veteran who could make a spot start on a moment’s notice. “It (his versatility has) been huge. He was arguably one of our best starters for a period of time last year,” Hinch said. “He’s closed out games, he’s been a multi-inning reliever, he’s sat down there for 7-10 days and not pitched. There’s never been a situation that Brad hasn’t faced. And to not only be able to do it but be good at it is something that he makes look pretty easy.”
Since the Astros don’t travel to Miami to face the Marlins this season, this series with the Rays will be Peacock’s only trip to Florida.
As expected, he’s eagerly anticipating having plenty of friends and family in the St. Petersburg stands, including his father, Jerry, a former Lake Worth firefighter and policeman who has traveled to plenty of Brad’s games since retiring in 2003. “Yeah, it’s awesome (to get that kind of support),” Peacock said. “I get a lot of friends and family to come out and watch. I hang out with them after the game. It’s fun.”
After acquiring Justin Verlander at the 2017 MLB nonwaiver trade deadline and another front-line starter in Gerrit Cole in January, the Astros now have maybe the best starting rotation in baseball, meaning Peacock will remain in the bullpen at least for the foreseeable future.
“Being on call or being very resilient, reliable, be a good strike thrower with multiple pitches are all characteristics that he has in his game,” Hinch said. “I feel like I have a safety net when Brad Peacock’s down there because no matter what happens, he can usually rescue us out of a situation or hold a game where it’s at or even close out a game.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.