N.Y. Mets: David Peterson's Battle To Keep Spot In Rotation Begins Now

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

PITCHERS & CATCHERS

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• Pitchers & Catchers: deGrominator Rising
• Pitchers & Catchers: Pressure on Marcus Stroman to Form One-Two Punch
• Pitchers & Catchers: Difference Between Good And Great Could Be Carlos Carrasco
  
• A Metsian Podcast: Reporting to Camp with Baseball Writer & Analyst Ernest Dove
  

Can David Peterson Pick Up Where He Left Off?

After just 247.2 innings worth of experience at the minor league level, David Peterson made his MLB debut last season.  The Mets 2017 first-round draft pick (20th overall) was called up in late July and finished out the season with ten appearances and nine starts.  He yielded just 36 hits and fanned 40 batters in 49.2 innings pitched but allowed an untidy 4.3 walks per nine innings pitched.  Peterson otherwise posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.208 WHiP, while his slightly elevated 4.52 FIP was offset by a fine .233 BABIP and .202 average against.

He averaged 5.1 innings per start but finished stronger than that.  In his penultimate start of the season, he went six full while striking out ten Atlanta Braves, then in his season finale allowed one run on just four hits over seven full in a victory over Washington.

Not bad for a rookie ... 

David Peterson retains his eligibility by a hair; the rookie cut-off is 50 innings pitched, and he did not spend more than 45 days on the pre-expanded 25-man roster.  With any luck, he circumvents baseball's mysterious sophomore jinx and can pick up where he left off.

His repertoire consists of the new-age traditional fastball/slider/change, which is based on deception and keeping hitters off-balance, of which I'm not a huge fan.  I prefer an accurately placed fastball, location in the zone, and a curveball that falls off the table.  Be that as it may, Peterson's fastball and slider come in at 92.6mph and 92.2mph, respectively, and he offsets that with an 84mph change-up.

Peterson went from a pre-camp rotation surety to suddenly being faced with stiff competition for a spot amongst the starting five.  It's safe to say the latest free-agent acquisition, Taijuan Walker, is certain to occupy the fourth rotation spot.  That leaves a three-way battle for the number five spot between fellow acquisitions Jordan Yamamoto, Joey Lucchesi, and the homegrown David Peterson. 

One factor out of Peterson's control is management's manipulation of options.  Lucchesi has one option remaining, Yamamoto has two, and Peterson, the freshest of the bunch, has three.  All three can expect to see time this season both at Syracuse and Flushing.  The only question is when. 

Jordan Yamamoto projects as a power pitcher but still lacks requisite control.  Instead, the onus is on Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson to distinguish themselves over the next five weeks.  The winner moves on to start the season as the rotation's lone southpaw.