Jace Peterson returns to Braves with ‘confidence back’

Jace Peterson hit .338 in 17 games at Triple-A Gwinnett. Chad Rhym/ chad.rhym@ajc.com

Jace Peterson hit .338 in 17 games at Triple-A Gwinnett. Chad Rhym/ chad.rhym@ajc.com

Utility man Jace Peterson returned to the Braves from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday looking to repeat his feat of June 2016.

Back then Peterson rejoined the Braves after a stint in the minors and played well enough that he stayed with the big-league club for the rest of the season.

“Last year, same kind of scenario, I got back up here and was able to put some good at-bats together,” Peterson said.

Peterson made the Braves roster out of spring training but the team sent him to Gwinnett after he hit .194 with a .293 on-base percentage over 42 games. Playing time opened up for Peterson when first baseman Freddie Freeman went on the disabled list May 18 but Peterson still didn’t produce.

Peterson hit .338 (22-for-65) in 17 games at Gwinnett. He said he was able to “get the confidence back” and benefited from working with Gwinnett hitting coach John Moses.

“When I was here, didn’t do a good enough job and wasn’t consistent enough in my at-bats,” Peterson said. “It was good to go down there work on some timing things. Feel good right now and ready to get going.”

Peterson took the roster vacated when the Braves sent Rio Ruiz to Gwinnett.