Declan Peterson

General Andrew Heidemann

Faith Foundation Drives Successful Pro Career

General Andrew Heidemann

Faith Foundation Drives Successful Pro Career

Steubenville, Ohio

"A lot of moments in my baseball career I've questioned if I should keep playing and that I've taken to prayer and ask if this is what God still wants me to do. God has given me strength and motivation and He has really blessed me with this…." These were the words that Declan Peterson used to describe how his faith has served as a foundation for his baseball career.
 
Declan Peterson's journey to playing collegiate baseball started at age five, after he got hit in the head by a baseball bat in his younger days while attending a minor league game. Fast forward to his college years, Peterson originally attended Concordia University Chicago, a Lutheran based school. Faith being very important to Peterson described his dynamic between him and the school as unique. Peterson wound up redshirting his freshman year but then after injuring his knee his sophomore year decided it was time to look for another opportunity.
 
The Illinois native discerned through prayer his next destination and reached out to Franciscan's baseball coach, Rick Carver. Franciscan first came on Peterson's radar when he was a junior going into his senior year of high school but because the school didn't have a baseball program at the time, so he didn't go there right away. But even after he found out that the baseball program was coming back, he didn't think much of it. Now, he saw it as an opportunity as a fresh start to his career.
 
In a shortened 2020 season, Peterson started 11 games for the Barons and cranked a batting average of .343 on 12 hit with 3 RBI's while having an OPS of .875. Peterson was a part of the newly revitalized baseball program for Franciscan and to him it was a unique experience.
 
In Peterson's second year with Franciscan and his final year playing collegiate baseball, the 22-year-old started 30 games for the Barons slashing .364 at the plate on 40 hits while driving in 27 RBI's. In the team's first full season as a program, Peterson played a massive role in the team's successes that eventually led them to the PAC playoff tournament.
 
Peterson learned many things throughout his time in a Baron uniform but one important lesson that he still carries to this day is that relying on his faith no matter the circumstances. Peterson's devotion to his Catholic faith is what ultimately drew him to the school but also the faith of his new head coach.
 
"It was so refreshing to see [Coach Carver] who was so open about his faith and living it out."
 
Peterson graduated from Franciscan in May of 2021 with a degree in Communication Arts with a focus in Digital broadcasting and production. Peterson currently plays professional baseball in Santa Fe New Mexico with a team called the Santa Fe Fuego in the Pecos league. When he is not playing baseball, he runs a podcast called "The top performance strength podcast" and he is a media editor while also being a baseball instructor.
 
Peterson plans on continuing to play professional baseball and moving up until God shows him otherwise.
 
"A lot of moments in my baseball career I've questioned if I should keep playing and that I've taken to prayer and ask if this is what God still wants me to do. God has given me strength and motivation and He has really blessed me with this. Many times, I've wanted to give up. I've seen the transformation as a player and man in baseball. A lot of great people have come into my career and helped me keep playing. It's been a very unique journey, but it's been very beautiful one at the same time."
 
Athletics have played a pivotal role in many student-athletes time at Franciscan and they have helped foster a foundation of faith in the center of many athletes' lives. You too can help play a pivotal role in each of the athletes lives by supporting Baron Athletics and sharing stories just like this one with friends, family, and others who want to know more about Franciscan's athletics.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Declan Peterson

#3 Declan Peterson

SS
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Declan Peterson

#3 Declan Peterson

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
SS