Brad Peacock: From Wellington Baseball Star To 2017 World Series Champ
Brad Peacock has three priorities in his life: family, friends and baseball — and the past year has been full of milestones for the Major League Baseball pitcher and Wellington resident.
The 2006 Palm Beach Central High School graduate experienced a magical 2017. His wife Stephanie gave birth to their son Colton, known as Colt, in June, and then he won the World Series with his Houston Astros teammates in seven thrilling games over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 1.
“It’s what you dream about as a little kid. It’s a dream come true, especially because we got to win the first time I was in the playoffs,” Peacock said.
When the Astros went to the playoffs in 2015 and lost the American League Divisional Series to the eventual champions, the Kansas City Royals, Peacock was recovering from back surgery. “I was watching on TV and rooting very hard for them, but it was fun to be healthy and have a chance to go to the World Series and win it this year,” he said.
Peacock appeared in four out of seven games in the World Series. He pitched a total of seven and one-third innings while giving up four hits and three walks, recording eight strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.54. He earned his first major league save in Game 3 by finishing the final three and two-thirds innings of a 5-3 win at Dodger Stadium.
Peacock played under legendary high school coach Scott Benedict at Palm Beach Central. Benedict was a former professional baseball player who produced numerous major leaguers during his time coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels, before retiring in 2016.
“The practices he ran for us in high school were identical to the practices I had in the minor leagues,” Peacock recalled.
After high school Peacock was drafted by the Washington Nationals, but chose to be a “draft and follow” prospect and enrolled at Palm Beach Community College, now Palm Beach State College, for one year. While there, his pitching coach, Kyle Forbes, helped him complete the transition from a third baseman to a full-time pitcher he began in high school.
Between high school and college, Peacock played with more than a dozen teammates who were drafted and went on to play in the minors, with some joining him in the majors. “I’m still friends with all of my high school teammates, and we hang out nearly every weekend during the baseball off-season,” he said.
He joined the Nationals organization in 2007 and worked his way up through every level of the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 2011.
“There is nothing like having the AAA manager call you into his office and tell you you’re going to the majors,” Peacock said.
In his first appearance in “the show,” he faced Matt Kemp at Dodger Stadium. “I said to myself, ‘It can’t get any tougher than this,’” he recalled.
After his rookie season, Peacock was traded to the Oakland Athletics organization, where he played for their AAA farm club. And after the 2012 season, he headed to the Astros. In five seasons with them, he spent time in the majors, with their AAA team and on injured reserve.
His dad, Jerry, retired from a career in law enforcement, converted a small trailer into a sleeper in order to follow his son throughout the minors.
“It meant everything to me,” Peacock said. “He wouldn’t tell me he was coming to a particular game, but when I would see him in the stands, it made me feel more comfortable, which helped me a lot.”
However, it was Peacock’s mother, Jacyne, who got him playing baseball.
“My dad is from Pahokee, where everyone played football, but I hated it,” Peacock recalled. “My mom played softball and taught me how to catch and throw. She was the first female manager at Okeeheelee Park, and we won the championship.”
Peacock was recently honored as a special guest at the Wellington Holiday Parade in December. He loves the traditions of his hometown — especially the parade.
“I used to attend the parade every year while growing up in Wellington, and my dad still takes my young nephews every year,” Peacock said.
He hadn’t been to the parade for a while but was excited to be able to be a part of the 2017 event with his wife Stephanie — who is also a Wellington native — and infant son.
There were two events which played a huge part in the eventual championship for the Astros and Peacock. The first was Colt being born in June, and the second was when Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston metropolitan area and the Texas Gulf Coast in late August.
“I’m from South Florida, which is hurricane prone, but I’ve never seen anything like that,” Peacock explained. “We were feeling for the people of Houston, and worried about our own families, because we were out on the road when Harvey hit. Wanting to win for our fans helped jump-start our run to the World Series.”
He said much of the Houston area is still a mess, but getting better.
Peacock and his wife made a deal during the season that she would take care of Colt so he could get some sleep and be fresh during the pennant stretch and playoffs, but he is paying her back during the off-season.
“Being a dad is hard, but it’s fun. Colt is definitely my good luck charm,” he said.
Peacock has certainly paid his dues to get where he is now. A number of years in the minors, injuries and being part of a Houston Astros team that went from 111 losses and last place in 2013 to World Series champions in 2017.
He feels that Wellington was a great place to grow up, lives here during the off-season and wants to raise his family here when his playing career is over.
He is also fortunate that the Astros spring training home is at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in nearby West Palm Beach.
“It gives me an extra two months at home with my family and friends,” Peacock said.
To follow Peacock and the Houston Astros, visit www.mlb.com/astros.
