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

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.