Call him the new kid on the block!
David Peterson, the Mets’ first-round selection in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft, was signed by the big club last week and has been assigned to play for the Cyclones this season. To say that the 21-year-old lefthander is looking forward to joining Brooklyn’s Boys of Summer at MCU Park would be an understatement.
“I’m super excited. I’m overwhelmed right now and I can’t get wait to get on the journey,” Peterson said. “Coming in and having a club like this and getting to meet the guys has been really good.”
The lefthander was one of the top pitchers in Division I college baseball this past season for the University of Oregon, posting an 11-4 won-loss record, a terrific 140-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and breaking the school’s record for most strikeouts in a game with 20. Those numbers have Cyclones manager Edgardo “Fonzie” Alfonzo intrigued.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s got,” Alfonzo said. “Hopefully he will bring good chemistry to the team.”
Peterson has been out of action since the Ducks season ended, so the Cyclones have him on a “throwing program” for the next few weeks to get himself back into “game shape” and get some innings in this season so that he can contribute in a big way next season.
“For me it’s just getting used to pro ball and using this time to get as prepared as I can for spring training next year,” Peterson said. “I think I can learn a lot from this season, even though it is a short season, to get ready for next year.”
Peterson has only been with the team for a short time, but already feels at home in the Cyclones organization.
“They’ve welcomed me with open arms and there are definitely a lot of good guys here, so I’m excited,” he said.
