Riley Peterson '16 Recruiting Profile

Hello my name is Riley Peterson. I’m a 5’10” 200 lb catcher/third baseman from Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  I am currently a Sophomore at Mesa Community College for the 2017-2018 school year. 

My primary position is catcher.  When not behind the plate, I am comfortable at 3rd base and in the outfield.  I believe that after playing so many different positions, I have gained a better knowledge of the game.  My experience as a catcher has made me a significantly better base runner. My reads are better, and my jumps are quicker.  Also, living in New Mexico has allowed me to play baseball all year round.

As a catcher, I work a lot on improving my relationships with my pitchers through training, game planning and focused bullpen sessions.  I’ve learned how to figure out the weaknesses in batters and take advantage of that every game.  Every day I practice and try to improve my catching, hitting and overall baseball knowledge, fundamentals and mechanics.  I work in the off-season with Albuquerque Baseball Academy (ABA) taking clinics, private lessons and attending summer and fall showcase tournaments with one of their teams.

Being a leader is important to me both on the field and off the field.  I proved myself as a freshman by working hard during practice and in games and made it a point every game to motivate and encourage my teammates.  I have great discipline, and at every workout, practice and game I hustle, lead by example, and perform to the best of my ability.  I have loved the game of baseball since the moment I stepped onto the field at my first Little League game.  Since then, I have worked hard to develop my athleticism, work ethic, and attitude that define who I am as a baseball player today.  As a leader, I put my team before myself.  I try very hard to leave a positive impression on my coaches, players, parents, and teammates.

My parents have taught me that school is important and therefore I take my education very seriously. I hold a current GPA of 3.07. I’ve always loved school, and have been thinking about college ever since I started middle school. Throughout school I’ve always enjoyed and done well in science.  As an athlete I’ve always been interested in how the human body performs and recovers from injury.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt about playing college baseball.   I’m interested in a college that offers a degree in Sports Medicine or Kinesiology or Exercise Physiology.  Eventually I want a career as a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor or maybe an Occupational Therapist.  Helping people improve their health and quality of life would be a very rewarding profession.    At this point I am open to many University options and I am open to any location that benefits me athletically and academically.  I would like a school where I can experience college life to its fullest.

I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my personal statement and for being interested in my abilities as a student and an athlete.

Thank you,
Riley Peterson