The New York Mets have called up prized lefty David Peterson to start Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox a team that drafted him out of high school, but he opted to go to the University of Oregon instead. That moved proved to be the right call, as he jumped from the 28th round in 2014 to the 20th overall selection in 2017.
Since joining the Mets, Peterseon has put together an ERA of 3.63 in 49 starts, and has stuck out better than 3.5x the number of batters he has granted free passes. He made four appearances in the Arizona Fall League where he struggled some, but held his own for the most part.
The fastball is not the power pitch so many members of the Mets rotation possess, sitting low-90s with the occasional offering starting with an 8, but he pounds the zone. His best pitch is the power slider that allows him to induce a lot of soft contact and grounders. His sinking change is a distant third offering, but it helps keep right-handed hitters honest and continues the grounder them.
He has a clear starter’s body, standing 6’6” and weighing in at 240 lbs., the 24-year old doesn’t have any projection to grow more, so the velo is likely at its peak, but he gets good extension despite the slight arm bend in a lower 3/4 slot delivery.
His future role is most likely at the back end of a rotation, but should put up consistent “quality starts” no matter how flawed that stat may be.
Shaun Kernahan is the founder and lead writer of Three Quarter Slot, where he blends scouting precision with a storyteller’s eye for the human side of the game. Based in Parker, Colorado, he has covered baseball prospects at every level since 2013, delivering in-depth evaluations, draft analysis, and developmental insight. Over the years, he has built Three Quarter Slot into a trusted home for thoughtful prospect coverage, detailed scouting reports, and a grounded look at how talent evolves
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