One of the good things about spring training is that it serves as a platform for players to showcase changes, skill growth, and any other things thay may have worked on in the offseason. It could signal the beginning of trends that may or may not last, but could be worth watching. The New York Mets‘ prospect David Peterson is a perfect example.
Peterson, a left-handed starter that is more command and control than pure stuff, showed increased velocity in his first spring training start for the New York Mets.
Here is a scouting report on Peterson, from MLB Pipeline: “Peterson’s fastball is average in terms of velocity, as he’ll sit at 89-91 mph and touch 93, but few starters in the Minors can sink and command it as well as he does. He combines his heater with an above-average slider that nets him whiffs as an out pitch, while his changeup, which flashes above-average, gives him a weapon against right-handed hitters. He fills out his four-pitch mix with a fringy curveball that he can throw for a strike.”
The report follows: “Despite a lower arm slot from his 6-foot-6 frame, Peterson has demonstrated outstanding control of all his pitches, even if he can stand to refine his overall command some. Average bat-missing ability and a knack for inducing weak, ground-ball contact points to more of a floor than a ceiling for Peterson, but it might not take him that long to reach his potential as a No. 3 or 4 starter.”
Yesterday against the Washington Nationals, Peterson sat in the 92-93 mph range and regularly touched 94. That could be huge for his future and augment his ceiling if he manages to hold on to those gains.
The Mets’ prospect handled the champions
With the heater and also using his slider, curveball and changeup, the lefty held the World champs in check: two innings, no runs, and just a single.
He had a very good season last year in Double-A. Peterson had a 4.19 ERA, but his FIP was a full run lower (3.19) and he struck out 9.47 per nine frames.
Luis Rojas, the Mets’ manager, said that the 94 miles per hour were “higher than what we expected just from previous history and I think that made everything play.”
“It’s just using my lower half more, honestly,†Peterson said to Anthony DiComo. “That’s one of the biggest things we’ve worked on this spring with all the pitching coaches. I work my legs during the offseason. Might as well use them during the season, just really trying to tap into getting the most out of my lower half that I can.â€
Whatever it is, hey, it seems to be working. If Peterson holds his velo increase, he could breeze through Triple-A and quickly become an option for the Mets in the second half.