It was an offseason like no other for former McNeese Cowboy and current Milwaukee Brewer Jace Peterson.

After playing a prominent role on last year's club that won 95 games and made it to the NLDS last season, Peterson agreed to re-sign for a third year with the Brewers organization on a one-year deal on November 30th. Little did he know he'd be one of the few free agents who'd know where they would play next season. On December 2nd, the Major League Baseball owners voted to lock out the players when the 2016 collective bargaining agreement expired. After a publicized negotiation, the MLB and MLBPA reached a new agreement 99 days later on March 10th. Three days later, Peterson and his teammates were heading down to Phoenix, Arizona for a condensed spring training to get ready for opening day on April 7th. 

"It had been a pretty hectic couple weeks as far as just the how negotiation was going. We knew it was kind of going to be an expedited process once we did come to an agreement," Peterson remarked once the new agreement was reached. "I was excited to re-sign in a place where there is familiarity, we got a really good team and added a couple of pieces and I think guys are continually getting better."

Fortunately, the 99-day lockout did not hinder his ability to get ready for the season. Jace is in line to potentially get the opening day start at third base after a productive spring in which he was focused on "building that winning mentality and just carrying it over from last year." He homered and drove in four with an OPS of .795 over 26 at-bats while continuing to play all over the field.

"The offseason stayed the same for me, regardless of the lockout. Doing my weights and my baseball routine weekly and doing a little hunting and fishing on the side to stay active. Routine-wise, it stayed the same as it has the last few years and off-seasons, I just got to do it a month longer in a sense and enjoy more time with my family." 

Constant work on your craft is required if you want to be as versatile and valuable as Peterson. He played in 94 games last year at every position but catcher and center field after an injury derailed the first part of his season. 

"I think the game has changed over the last few years has gone more and more to the utility type guys being valued very highly. That's kind of the situation that I'm in. I like the challenge of being able to move across the diamond on any given day, in any different inning, and going to play different positions. It's challenging but if you continue to get to work and try to get better at each position it's a very fun process and you can make a really good career out of it."

If you were lucky, you may have seen him out at Joe Miller Ballpark putting in work in the offseason. "I still live close to McNeese and still do a lot of work out there and do my baseball stuff there. I get to see those guys and the coaches on a pretty regular basis in the offseason."

Included in his "work out there" was a donation to the Hurricane Relief Fund through the McNeese Foundation for the Cowboy baseball team when Lake Charles was devastated by damage caused by two hurricanes within months of each other back in August and October of 2020. The funds were raised through Athletes Giving Back and supported the rebuilding of the baseball program. Attached is head coach Justin Hill and Jace Peterson back in December 2020. 

"It was a no-brainer when that situation happened. Fortunately, (Lake Charles native and 13-year MLB veteran pitcher) Wade LeBlanc and I were able to kind of partner up to raise funds to try to give back the best way we could. It was definitely a blessing to be able to bless others. When you're in a position where you're blessed that is what you should do, while passing it on to as many people as you can. It was an honor to be able to raise those funds and to give back a little bit."

"McNeese is obviously the place where I kind of jumpstarted my career. I played baseball and football there for three years. I enjoyed my time there, the people and the friendships I made from the administration to the coaching staff, to the players."

The goal for the Brew crew is ultimately to make the playoffs but Peterson and co. aren't satisfied after last year's NL Central champs fell short in the NLDS. "We want to take that next step and win a series in the playoffs and take that next step and win the world series. Our goal is to win each day and stay as healthy as we can, if we do that we are going to be in a good spot."

Jace will begin his ninth season in the bigs when the Brewers open their season at Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs starting Thursday, April 7th at 1:20 p.m.