David Peterson Looking Every Bit the Part of MLB Impact Maker
His manager's public vote of confidence appears to have propelled Peterson down the stretch in PSL
Image via New York Mets
New York Mets left-hander David Peterson continues to impress.
Another fine outing in New York’s 7-3 loss to the Nationals in Port St. Lucie on Friday evening (box score) has the 25-year-old heading into his first full major league season with a head full of steam.
Mets manager Luis Rojas shared post-game that he thought Peterson was able to make adjustments on “arm-side misses” throughout the night, adding he thought “his secondary pitches worked”, noting his changeup and slider, specifically.
As a point of reference, Peterson threw his slider 19 times and changeup 11 times over his 78-pitch outing (50 strikes), racking up called-strike-and-whiff rates (CSW%) of 37 percent and 27 percent on each, respectively.
That will most certainly play, as should his increased four-seam velocity, which Rojas complimented after the game, as well. After averaging 92.1 MPH on the offering in 2020, Peterson averaged 94.3 MPH on Friday.
Those extra ticks should accentuate his breaking and offspeed stuff to an even greater extent. Combine that with Peterson’s cruising through his six-inning outing so efficiently, and there’s a lot to look forward to.
“[Peterson] was below the pitch count that we expected for six innings,” Rojas said. “That’s always a good sign. If the guys can pitch to contact like that or get ahead, do different things like that, it’ll be huge.”
Peterson spoke after his outing, lending credence to the benefits of working efficiently on the mound and sounding every bit the part of a confident, ready-for-prime-time major league pitcher.
“I think it’s big for being able to get the hitters back in the dugout and put some runs on the board. I think it’s big for being able to go deep into games. As a starter, I want to get as deep in the game I can as possible. So when you keep the pitch counts down and get quick outs, that’s an easy way to go deeper into games.”
“It was good to get through innings quickly and be able to get some groundballs and some contact and get some outs and get out of there.”
This seems to be a concerted effort on the player and team’s part to instill solid foundational mound values in a pitcher who, albeit without a ton of major league experience, clearly has the stuff and makeup to be a successful pitcher in this league.
We’ve spoken about Peterson’s lack of minor league experience before making his debut last season and have even pointed out the dangers of exposing Peterson’s vulnerabilities to major league hitters before he’s truly ready.
Apparently, that’s neither here nor there.
Peterson clearly has the inside track at a spot in Rojas’ rotation despite the potential hazards, and his manager’s moderately unexpected public vote of confidence appears to have had a profoundly positive effect on the 25-year-old southpaw.
Three earned runs over his first two spring outings (six innings, one strikeout, two walks) followed by six economical innings with evidence of a confident pitcher at every turn is a positive development any way you slice it.
Peterson going upstairs with the four-seam and comfortably pitching inside are both extremely encouraging takeaways from Friday’s appearance. There were more.
He actually hit Nats outfielder Victor Robles on the top of the back foot with a back-foot slider in the third, which was summarily awesome despite the baserunner.
His fancy footwork on a 3-1 putout in the second, advancing to the bag and spinning in time with Pete Alonso’s throw to get Carter Kieboom. Shattering Kyle Schwarber’s bat into splinters on an inside fastball. All of it points to a viable, ready-for-war option at the back-end of the Mets’ rotation.
Exciting stuff.
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