From Baseball to the Bachelor Pad

It should come as no surprise that Nick Peterson’s star has been on the rise since his appearance last summer on The Bachelorette. After all, the Odessa, Florida native has all-American good looks and charming personality. And even though they didn’t help him win Ashley Hebert’s heart, they did capture America’s attention.

Nick Peterson

“It’s opened a lot of doors,” admits Peterson, who is appearing on ABC’s The Bachelor Pad this summer for a second chance at love and the prospect of winning $250,000. “The national recognition has helped me build my name up and get my name out.”

But gaining popularity isn’t something new for Peterson. The 27-year-old former professional baseball player actually started making a name for himself on the diamond while growing up in Florida.

“I was consistently one of the better players on the field, and so I stuck with it,” recalls Peterson, who only discovered his natural talent for baseball after a horrendous attempt at playing soccer. “My dad was always out there practicing with me, pushing me.”

Peterson went on to become a superstar pitcher at Jesuit High School, Tampa’s all-male Catholic school with a rich history of turning out all-star athletes.

“In high school I was only a pitcher; it’s what I was best at. I wasn’t going to be hitting, I can tell you that,” jokes Peterson. “I enjoyed being in control of the game, having the ball, being the guy in charge.”

Nick Peterson

Peterson’s stellar skills on the mound landed him a scholarship to Appalachian State University in North Carolina, where he played ball for two years before transferring to the University of Tampa. In 2006, Peterson was drafted by the New York Yankees.

“Hearing your name come up on the draft, it brings tears to your eyes,” admits Peterson, who was called up in the 12th round as the 374th overall pick. “It’s every boys dream; and you work so hard for it your whole life.”

Peterson spent two years in the minor leagues playing with the Yankees’ Staten Island and Charleston, South Carolina farm teams. He then went on to become an independent athlete with teams in Alberta, Canada and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“Independent ball is like what arena football is to the NFL,” explains Peterson. “You’re paid, but there’s no moving up throughout the organization. You’re hoping a Major League Baseball team will pick you out and put you in their organization.”

But after two years chasing his Major League dreams, Peterson decided it was time to move on to the next chapter of his life.

“I didn’t want to be 35 and still playing independent baseball,” says Peterson, who returned to the University of Tampa to complete his studies and get his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship. “I gave it my best shot; and it felt like a mature decision to move on. Obviously I didn’t make it all the way to the top, but it was the best four years of my life.”

Right around the same time he graduated from college in the summer of 2010, Peterson went on to become a certified personal trainer. And later that year he launched Peety’s Personal Training, located at Body Shapers Private Studio in Tampa.

“I always told myself that if I didn’t make it to the big leagues, I would really go at it hard,” states Peterson, whose former body-builder father introduced him to working out at an early age. “I didn’t really think I’d be doing it for a living. I thought I’d be doing it for fun, for myself. But I love my job!”

So what can current and future clients expect from Peterson?

“I sing,” kids Peterson, who tends to break out into song while whipping his clients into shape. “It’s a high intensity workout, complete with circuit training. I’ve kind of carried on my father’s body building techniques, and I use a lot of them in my training. It’s all one-on-one; I build a personal relationship with each client.”

Nick Peterson

And Peterson’s client list continues to grow. A year after his Bachelorette days, he’s still seeing a spike in business, as well as a few comical calls from admirers.

“I have some clients who are still with me because they saw me on the show,” says Peterson. “But I also get a lot of teenage girls who call to set up an appointment only to show up, giggle, and say hello and leave.”

Meanwhile, the still-single Peterson hasn’t given up on love. He’s still searching for an outgoing Christian woman with a similar passion for health and fitness. And once he finds her, he has two ideas for the perfect first date.

“I am a country music fan, so I love heading to the amphitheater, laying out a blanket and listening to some great live music,” proclaims Peterson. “Line dancing is another favorite; so either of those would be great dates.”

But until Mrs. Right comes along, Peterson plans to concentrate on expanding his business through online personal training while never taking his good fortune for granted.

“God has blessed me in so many ways,” affirms Peterson. “I’ve been really blessed with my baseball career, a wonderful family that supports me the whole way through, my own business and The Bachelorette.”

With that appreciation for life’s blessings, strong work ethic and charming personality, you can rest assured Peterson won’t be a Bachelor for long.

Tom Castañeda

Tom Castañeda is a creative writer, blogger, and award-winning broadcast journalist who has worked at Architectural Digest, In Touch Weekly, and Latina – a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for today’s bi-cultural Latina woman. Throughout his career in publishing, Tom has planned and executed numerous celebrity, fashion, and beauty programs throughout the country, including fashion shows, and shopping events for brands like Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Mikimoto, David Yurman, Givenchy, Armani Fragrances, Macy’s, Southpole Collection, and more. Additionally, Tom has drawn on his strong journalism background to create various print, online, and video reports on various subjects, including fashion and beauty.