By JOE McFARLAND

No one could have imagined the kind of memorable rookie season that Tristan Peters was going to put together.

Even the Chicago White Sox outfielder seems a little gobsmacked when talking about all that has transpired, particularly in the last 24 hours.

Entering Friday night’s game against the Athletics, he was hitting .292 with 19 doubles, five home runs and 30 runs batted in over his first 88 games.

Peters then went off, hitting for the cycle, driving in five runs and writing his name in the history books as the fourth Canadian to accomplish the feat.

Less than 12 hours later, the Dawgs Academy and Okotoks Dawgs alum was selected as an injury replacement for Athletics’ first baseman Nick Kurtz for the upcoming MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

“It’s surreal – it doesn’t feel real at the moment,” Peters told reporters after the announcement was made. “I can’t believe this is all happening. It feels like all at once. I’m just so grateful. It’s been some of the most fun I’ve had playing baseball with this team.”

It’s another incredible chapter in his well-documented journey from his hometown in Winkler, Manitoba to the big leagues.

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GETTING A CHANCE

Heading into the 2026 season, there were some question marks as to whether Peters was even going to be an everyday player with the White Sox.

Traded during the offseason from Tampa Bay, where he made his MLB debut in 2025, the 2019 Western Canadian Baseball League Top Canadian and Playoff MVP was coming to a team that was coming off being the worst in the bigs.

Peters earned a spot out of Spring Training and kept doing what was asked of him.

“I know there was a lot of bunting in the beginning and just trying to figure out who I am at the big-league level,” said the Southern Illinois University grad. “They (the White Sox) gave space for that, too. Just an incredibly supportive group and that’s helped me thrive.”

He says he simply wanted to make the most out of every opportunity he was given to showcase the player he can be – an every day Major Leaguer.

RIDING AROUND THE BASES

Hitting ninth and playing centre field in his 89^th game of the season Friday night, Peters was also at the centre of the hometown broadcast as he was mic’d up for CHSN.

He got his first at-bat in the bottom of the third and hit a double into the gap in right-centre field off Aaron Civale.

Later on while he was patrolling the outfield, the broadcast caught him saying, “I’ll tell you what, if I get out once, I’m done being mic’d up, I’ll take it off. If I keep getting hits, I’ll keep it on.”

Peters then hit a scorcher off the glove of first baseman Joey Menenes in the fifth inning for an RBI single.

Facing reliever Justin Sterner in the bottom of the seventh, the 26-year-old hit an absolute rocket over the fence, which kickstarted what turned into an eight-run inning where he found himself back up to the plate nine batters later.

With Mason Barnett on the mound, the former Savannah Bananas outfielder drove one just inside the first base line and he was off to the races, sliding into third and the history books.

“When I hit the ball, I was thinking three,” he said of the triple, which allowed him to become just the second Canadian since 1900 (George Kottaras did it with Milwaukee in September 2011) to hit for the cycle in a major league game.

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According to MLB.com, Peters is just the fifth player in MLB history to record a cycle while batting ninth in the lineup.

“I’m honoured – it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” he said in his post-game media availability. “Blessed to do it in front of these fans. This city. It’s just incredible.”

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Little did he know, the cycle was just the beginning of a crazy weekend.

Peters got the call about the All-Star Game Saturday morning, which he admits was a pipe dream at the start of the season.

“I guess toward the end of this first half, I was like ‘OK, maybe there’s a chance,’ but there’s a lot of really, really talented players in this league,” he said.

His mind immediately went to his family, as he and his wife Erin welcomed their first child, Elaine, in Spring Training.

“Shout out to my wife, she’s incredible,” Peters smiled. “She’s almost a single mom half the time, I’m gone so often. She’s a super mom, really. She lets me sleep at night, she takes care of the baby. She’s the real hero in this situation. I’m so proud of her. She’s such an amazing mom.”

Back in Okotoks, fellow Chandler-Gilbert Community College grad Tyler Hollick was at a loss for words thinking about how Peters has gone from the quiet high school kid roaming around the Seaman Stadium complex and WCBL champion with the Dawgs in 2019 to a bonafide big leaguer and MLB All-Star.

“He’s a testament to trusting the program, being a great teammate and extremely hard worker,” the Dawgs’ president of baseball operations told Alberta Dugout Stories.

“Couldn’t have happened to a better kid and we are so proud of him. Hopefully this is just the beginning as it’s been an amazing season.”

Peters becomes the second Dawg to be named to the MLB All-Star Game, following pitcher Andrew Kittredge in 2021.

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