Jace Peterson is headed to the desert.
The former McNeese star has been traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Peterson, who signed a two-year, $9.5 million deal last year, was traded for pitcher Chad Patrick.
Peterson — who started at both third and second base for the Athletics — has appeared in 92 games this season. He is hitting .221 with six home runs and 11 steals, and had a record 5-for-5 performance with two home runs and five RBI against Pittsburgh in early June.
The former Cowboy has been playing better since the MLB All-Star Break. In his past 15 games, Peterson is hitting .316 with an on-base percentage of .413.
In 10 seasons in MLB, the 33-year-old Moss Bluff native has appeared in 832 games, recorded 528 hits, 97 doubles, 42 home runs, 235 RBI and has a .230 career batting average.
Peterson has played for the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and now the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Peterson was a two-sport star at McNeese playing both baseball and football, but it was on the diamond where he made the biggest impact.
During his three-year career, Peterson was a two-time first team All-Southland Conference selection in 2010 and 2011, and led the league with 35 stolen bases in 2010.
He was inducted into the McNeese Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.