Memories of David Peterson

[Cowtipper]

Well, one of the thorns in the 2026 Mets' side is gone, as David Peterson is off to the Cubs for their #2 draft pick in 2024, Cole Mathis. Share all your memories of this now-former Met, who I believe was the longest-tenured Met on the club at the time of his departure. 

[ashie62]

My IGT Ace Peterson titles as corny as they were

Peterson went from multiple arms injuries to being largely available 

[MFS62]

I always thought he gave them a chance to win 

. Until this year. 
later

[Frayed Knot]

The 5-1/3 scoreless (3 hits) innings in relief over two games vs Philly in the NLDS

The return from the hip issue that seemed to cure his wildness (particularly high/arm-side) and led him to a 2025 All-Star nod and a 15-5 record with a low 3's ERA from the beginning of '24 thru mid-'25 ... and then it all fell apart with seemingly no cause or explanation.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Son of a horse trainer.

Succeeded Pat Mahomes as the Best Mets pitcher to wear 23.

Showed up not long after Tim Peterson, who was a schlubby guy unlike the long and lean David. I conflated em anyway

[Benjamin Grimm]

 

[smg58]

It's easy to forget how valuable Peterson was in the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025.  I can remember somebody here ( I forget who) repeatedly referring to him as our ace -- and for what now seems like an instant, he was.  But pitching value can evaporate quickly.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Schaefer Mets Pitcher of the Year in 2025.

Pitcher of the Month in August 2024, June 2025, and July 2025.

 

[metirish]

My abiding memory of David is that he always looked like he was laboring out there and one bad pitch could make it all go to crap 

[Cowtipper]

I fell off the David Peterson bandwagon a lot sooner than most people. I remember being over him by 2023; he was far too inconsistent. I was impressed by his 2024 campaign, and thought he might've turned the corner, but still wasn't sold. We had seen that script multiples before. A good year, then a bad one, then a good one, then a bad one. The one highlight I DO remember fondly is his complete game shutout from 2025. 

Before there was Vientos, Alvarez and Baty, there was David Peterson, the top prospect they obsessively stuck with long after they should have ditched him. 

[Edgy MD]

Drafted 20th in the first round in the 2017 draft, but currently in seventh place in bWAR among his cohort of first rounders from that year.

Rank	Name	Pick #	Tm	Bonus	Pos	WAR
1	Drew Rasmussen	31	Rays		RHP	13.5
2	Hunter Greene	2	Reds	$7,230,000	RHP	13.2
3	Trevor Rogers	13	Marlins	$3,400,000	LHP	9.2
4	Brent Rooker	35	Twins	$1,935,300	OF	7.9
5	Tanner Houck	24	Red Sox	$2,614,500	RHP	7.5
6	MacKenzie Gore	3	Padres	$6,700,000	LHP	7.0
7	Jake Burger	11	White Sox	$3,700,000	3B	6.5
8	David Peterson	20	Mets	$2,994,500	LHP	6.1
9	Clarke Schmidt	16	Yankees	$2,184,300	RHP	4.8
10	Royce Lewis	1	Twins	$6,725,000	SS	4.5

I want to give the Rays beaucoup credit for getting the most first-round value with the 31st pick, but they didn't even sign their guy.

On the other hand, they went ahead and traded for him two years later.  But hey, when it comes to draft position/productivity ratio, the Mets appear to be in second place.