David Peterson Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

IP	333
ERA	4.514
WHIP	1.405
BB/9	4.081
SO/9	9.811

Full name David John Peterson
Born 09/03/1995 in Denver, CO
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Oregon
Debut 07/28/2020
Drafted in the 1st round (20th overall) by the New York Mets in 2017 (signed for $2,994,500).

View Draft Report

Peterson was a Top 100 prospect out of a Denver high school thanks to a projectable 6-foot-6 frame, ability to sink his fastball that reached 91 mph and flashes of above-average changeup and slider. A broken right fibula delayed the start of his prep senior season, and the 28th-round pick (Red Sox) didn't sign, instead heading to Oregon. He proved durable in his first two seasons and pitched for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer, but Peterson didn't take off until 2017, when he hit it off with new pitching coach Jason Dietrich. Peterson was leading the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio in early May and had six double-digit strikeout games, including 17 against Mississippi State and 20 in late April against Arizona State. Peterson has improved his fastball velocity (up to 94 mph early in games) and command this season. He pitches at around 91 mph. His quieter delivery features better direction to the plate this year and a bit more deception, eliciting swings-and-misses from his fastball. His slider earns plus grades from some scouts, and at times he'll back-foot righthanded hitters with it all night until they adjust. Then he can locate an average curveball to mix things up, and scouts like his above-average changeup, though he doesn't use it much. One Pac-12 coach called it his best pitch, with plus tumble and fade, and it allows Peterson to go arm-side with his fastball and change, then glove-side with the slider, slicing up the plate and flummoxing hitters. Peterson stays out of the middle of the plate, pitches with angle and gets groundballs when he isn't striking out loads of hitters. He has solid athleticism that allows him to repeat his improved delivery, even as he's filled out physically from 213 pounds as a prep senior to a listed 235 at Oregon. Peterson had pitched his way into the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets drafted Peterson 20th overall in 2017, the year he struck out 20 batters in a game for Oregon. Three years later they had a major league starter after Peterson received his first callup on July 28. He stayed in the rotation all season, missing two weeks with shoulder fatigue in August, and served as the club’s de facto No. 2 starter behind Jacob deGrom.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson’s height, extension and unique slider characteristics make him tough to square up when he’s working ahead in the count. Opponents hit just .119 and swung and missed 37% of the time against his sweeping, low-80s slider. Peterson previously sat in the high 80s with his fastball, but after dedicating to conditioning and nutrition he came to camp in 2020 sitting 92 mph and held that velocity all season. He also shifted his focus from sinking the ball to throwing four-seam fastballs to give him something competitive up in the zone. Peterson has shown increasing confidence in his fringe changeup, which shows good armside life and complements his sinker. He needs to improve his first-pitch strike rate.

THE FUTURE: Peterson profiles as a No. 4-type starter unless he develops plus fastball command or commits to becoming fully slider-forwar.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 20th overall in 2017, Peterson spent the entirety of his third pro season in Double-A and made a career-high 24 starts. He ranked fifth in the Eastern League with 122 strikeouts while placing among the Double-A leaders in groundball rate (52.6 percent) and swinging-strike rate (13.7 percent) among pitchers with 100 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson offers proof that looks can be deceiving. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, he looks like a power pitcher but instead relies on working ahead, location and sequencing. Peterson is a strike-thrower who generates late swings and mis-hits thanks to the extension in is delivery that makes his 87-92 mph fastball look faster. His swing-and-miss slider has been his primary weapon dating back to college. The pitch has slurvy shape, late break and plus depth. Peterson's below-average changeup is not a significant factor and is more of a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: Peterson's lack of fine command and sometimes questionable body language turn off some scouts, but he's lefthanded, throws strikes and has a plus slider. He could begin getting looks at the back of the rotation beginning in 2020.
Track Record: Peterson shined as an Oregon junior in 2017 and went to the Mets 20th overall. His pro workload has been interrupted by an ingrown toenail in his debut and then a tweaked knee at the outset of 2018. He struck out 8.1 per nine innings at two Class A levels in his full-season debut, but more notable was his contact management. He allowed just two home runs in 22 starts to go with a groundball rate of nearly 65 percent that ranked third in the minors among minor league starters with at least 100 innings.

Scouting Report: Peterson is a physical, 6-foot-6 lefthander with ample starter traits if not necessarily a huge ceiling. His fastball sits 89-91 mph and tops out 93 but looks a few ticks faster to batters because his elite extension boosts his effective velocity. His fastball runs to his arm side. Peterson's best pitch is a slurvy, swing-and-miss slider at 78-81 mph that he commands as a chase pitch against lefthanders, a back-foot equalizer against righthanders and as a get-me-over pitch for called strikes. The unique angles he creates from his height and three-quarters arm slot help him leverage the ball down in the strike zone and limit hard contact. Peterson shows some feel for a fringy changeup that he will need to refine to work away from the barrels of righthanders.

The Future: Peterson has the best control and best slider in the system, with both grading as plus for some scouts. He and will rely on those attributes to prop up the rest of an arsenal befitting of a No. 4 starter.
An unsigned 28th-round pick out of high school, Peterson blossomed as an Oregon junior after he clicked with new pitching coach Jason Dietrich. He ranked sixth in Division I (and first in the Pacific-12 Conference) with 140 strikeouts. The Mets selected him 20th overall in 2017 and signed him for a tick less than $3 million. Peterson walked 3.5 per nine innings in his first two college seasons before reducing that rate to 1.4 in 2017, when he showed the best control in his draft class. A physical, 6-foot-6 lefthanded starter, he has ordinary fastball velocity--he sits 90-91 mph and peaks at 95--but above-average sink and run to go with a wide repertoire. Peterson shows advanced command of an above-average, low-80s slider that flummoxes batters with its unique angle and deceptive late drop. It's an out pitch versus lefthanders and a back-foot weapon against righties. His fading changeup could develop into an above-average weapon now that he has sharpened his fastball command. He throws an occasional fringy curveball early in counts. Peterson signed at deadline and then had surgery to remove an ingrown toenail, which inhibited his ability to walk or pitch, so he made just three abbreviated starts at short-season Brooklyn, none more than 39 pitches in duration. He notched 20- and 17-strikeout games at Oregon in 2017, but his repertoire suggests more of a durable, strike-throwing, groundball-oriented No. 3 or 4 starter.

Draft Prospects

Peterson was a Top 100 prospect out of a Denver high school thanks to a projectable 6-foot-6 frame, ability to sink his fastball that reached 91 mph and flashes of above-average changeup and slider. A broken right fibula delayed the start of his prep senior season, and the 28th-round pick (Red Sox) didn't sign, instead heading to Oregon. He proved durable in his first two seasons and pitched for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer, but Peterson didn't take off until 2017, when he hit it off with new pitching coach Jason Dietrich. Peterson was leading the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio in early May and had six double-digit strikeout games, including 17 against Mississippi State and 20 in late April against Arizona State. Peterson has improved his fastball velocity (up to 94 mph early in games) and command this season. He pitches at around 91 mph. His quieter delivery features better direction to the plate this year and a bit more deception, eliciting swings-and-misses from his fastball. His slider earns plus grades from some scouts, and at times he'll back-foot righthanded hitters with it all night until they adjust. Then he can locate an average curveball to mix things up, and scouts like his above-average changeup, though he doesn't use it much. One Pac-12 coach called it his best pitch, with plus tumble and fade, and it allows Peterson to go arm-side with his fastball and change, then glove-side with the slider, slicing up the plate and flummoxing hitters. Peterson stays out of the middle of the plate, pitches with angle and gets groundballs when he isn't striking out loads of hitters. He has solid athleticism that allows him to repeat his improved delivery, even as he's filled out physically from 213 pounds as a prep senior to a listed 235 at Oregon. Peterson had pitched his way into the first round.
The next hurler in the strong lineage of tall, projectable pitchers from the state of Colorado, lefthander David Peterson showed the raw materials necessary to be a top-three round selection on the showcase circuit. But he fractured his right fibula shortly before the start of the regular season in early March and was not expected to pitch in game action again before the draft. A speedy recovery has brought Peterson back healthy for five appearances. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Peterson has a lean, athletic physical with long levers that offers considerable physical projection. With loose arm action and an easy delivery, Peterson hides the ball well and produces above-average fastball movement with sink and heavy arm-side run into lefthanded hitters. Peterson, whose arsenal shows the ability to induce ground balls consistently, touched 93 mph last fall and sat in the high 80s over extended innings on the showcase circuit. His velocity has largely been 86-89, touching 90 mph upon his return. Given his physical projection and athleticism, Peterson's velocity is expected to increase. His changeup shows the makings of an above-average offering at its best. His breaking ball lags behind his changeup, flashing average but consistently playing below-average. Peterson has feel for the strike zone and could develop at least average control. The Oregon commit's injury and the limited looks teams have gotten since he returned put his draft stock into question, but he has the talent to be a top-three round pick.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Slider in the New York Mets in 2020
Rated Best Control in the New York Mets in 2019
Rated Best Slider in the New York Mets in 2019

Scouting Reports

Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets drafted Peterson 20th overall in 2017, the year he struck out 20 batters in a game for Oregon. Three years later they had a major league starter after Peterson received his first callup on July 28. He stayed in the rotation all season, missing two weeks with shoulder fatigue in August, and served as the club’s de facto No. 2 starter behind Jacob deGrom.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson’s height, extension and unique slider characteristics make him tough to square up when he’s working ahead in the count. Opponents hit just .119 and swung and missed 37% of the time against his sweeping, low-80s slider. Peterson previously sat in the high 80s with his fastball, but after dedicating to conditioning and nutrition he came to camp in 2020 sitting 92 mph and held that velocity all season. He also shifted his focus from sinking the ball to throwing four-seam fastballs to give him something competitive up in the zone. Peterson has shown increasing confidence in his fringe changeup, which shows good armside life and complements his sinker. He needs to improve his first-pitch strike rate.

THE FUTURE: Peterson profiles as a No. 4-type starter unless he develops plus fastball command or commits to becoming fully slider-forwar.
Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets drafted Peterson 20th overall in 2017, the year he struck out 20 batters in a game for Oregon. Three years later they had a major league starter after Peterson received his first callup on July 28. He stayed in the rotation all season, missing two weeks with shoulder fatigue in August, and served as the club’s de facto No. 2 starter behind Jacob deGrom.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson’s height, extension and unique slider characteristics make him tough to square up when he’s working ahead in the count. Opponents hit just .119 and swung and missed 37% of the time against his sweeping, low-80s slider. Peterson previously sat in the high 80s with his fastball, but after dedicating to conditioning and nutrition he came to camp in 2020 sitting 92 mph and held that velocity all season. He also shifted his focus from sinking the ball to throwing four-seam fastballs to give him something competitive up in the zone. Peterson has shown increasing confidence in his fringe changeup, which shows good armside life and complements his sinker. He needs to improve his first-pitch strike rate.

THE FUTURE: Peterson profiles as a No. 4-type starter unless he develops plus fastball command or commits to becoming fully slider-forwar.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 20th overall in 2017, Peterson spent the entirety of his third pro season in Double-A and made a career-high 24 starts. He ranked fifth in the Eastern League with 122 strikeouts while placing among the Double-A leaders in groundball rate (52.6 percent) and swinging-strike rate (13.7 percent) among pitchers with 100 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson offers proof that looks can be deceiving. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, he looks like a power pitcher but instead relies on working ahead, location and sequencing. Peterson is a strike-thrower who generates late swings and mis-hits thanks to the extension in is delivery that makes his 87-92 mph fastball look faster. His swing-and-miss slider has been his primary weapon dating back to college. The pitch has slurvy shape, late break and plus depth. Peterson’s below-average changeup is not a significant factor and is more of a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: Peterson’s lack of fine command and sometimes questionable body language turn off some scouts, but he’s lefthanded, throws strikes and has a plus slider. He could begin getting looks at the back of the rotation beginning in 2020.
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 20th overall in 2017, Peterson spent the entirety of his third pro season in Double-A and made a career-high 24 starts. He ranked fifth in the Eastern League with 122 strikeouts while placing among the Double-A leaders in groundball rate (52.6 percent) and swinging-strike rate (13.7 percent) among pitchers with 100 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson offers proof that looks can be deceiving. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, he looks like a power pitcher but instead relies on working ahead, location and sequencing. Peterson is a strike-thrower who generates late swings and mis-hits thanks to the extension in is delivery that makes his 87-92 mph fastball look faster. His swing-and-miss slider has been his primary weapon dating back to college. The pitch has slurvy shape, late break and plus depth. Peterson's below-average changeup is not a significant factor and is more of a show-me pitch.

THE FUTURE: Peterson's lack of fine command and sometimes questionable body language turn off some scouts, but he's lefthanded, throws strikes and has a plus slider. He could begin getting looks at the back of the rotation beginning in 2020.
Peterson has physicality at 6-foot-6, three pitches and control. What the 2017 first-rounder out of Oregon didn’t have coming into the year was experience. An ingrown toenail curtailed his pro debut last year and then a tweaked knee delayed his start this season. When Peterson returned, he quickly advanced to the Florida State League with his low-90s fastball, solid-average slider and average changeup. He gets results because of the angle on his pitches and ability to keep the ball on the ground.
TRACK RECORD: An unsigned 28th-round pick out of high school, Peterson blossomed as an Oregon junior after he clicked with new pitching coach Jason Dietrich. He ranked sixth in Division I (and first in the Pacific-12 Conference) with 140 strikeouts. The Mets selected him 20th overall in 2017 and signed him for a tick less than $3 million. SCOUTING REPORT: Peterson walked 3.5 per nine innings in his first two college seasons before reducing that rate to 1.4 in 2017, when he showed the best control in his draft class. A physical, 6-foot-6 lefthanded starter, he has ordinary fastball velocity--he sits 90-91 mph and peaks at 95--but above-average sink and run. Peterson shows advanced command of an above-average, low-80s slider that flummoxes batters with its unique angle and deceptive late drop. It's an out pitch versus lefthanders and a back-foot weapon against righties. His fading changeup could develop into an above-average weapon now that he has sharpened his fastball command. He throws an occasional fringy curveball early in counts. THE FUTURE: Peterson signed at deadline and then had surgery to remove an ingrown toenail, which inhibited his ability to walk or pitch, so he made just three abbreviated starts at short-season Brooklyn, none more than 39 pitches in duration. He notched 20- and 17-strikeout games at Oregon in 2017, but his repertoire suggests more of a durable, groundball-oriented No. 3 or 4 starter.