David Peterson Bio
David John Peterson (born September 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020 and has since developed into a reliable member of the Mets’ starting rotation. In 2025, Peterson was named to his first All-Star Game, a milestone that reflected his growth as a Major League starter.
Early Life and Background
Peterson was born on September 3, 1995, to Shannon Peterson and Doug Peterson. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he spent much of his early years around horses with his father, who worked as a horse trainer and was once connected with the champion racehorse Seattle Slew. When Peterson was nine years old, his father died of an accidental drug overdose, a loss that shaped his upbringing. Between eighth grade and his freshman year of high school, Peterson grew ten inches, a physical transformation that helped point him toward a future in pitching.
Peterson attended Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado, where he emerged as one of the top high school pitching prospects in the country. In 2013, he played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field, further raising his profile. Before his senior year, he broke his fibula during a basketball game and underwent surgery, causing him to miss his entire senior baseball season. He fell to the 28th round of the 2014 MLB draft, and the Boston Red Sox selected him, but Peterson chose not to sign and instead enrolled at the University of Oregon.
Path to Major League Baseball
At Oregon, Peterson quickly worked his way into a prominent role with the Ducks. He started 14 games as a freshman in 2015, going 4–6 with a 4.39 ERA and 81 strikeouts, and followed that with a sophomore season in 2016 in which he went 4–5 with a 3.61 ERA. During the summer of 2016, he played for the United States national collegiate team, gaining valuable experience against top amateur competition. Peterson became Oregon’s number one starter in 2017, setting a school record with 17 strikeouts in a single game on March 3, 2017, and then breaking that mark with 20 strikeouts on April 29, 2017.
His college performance pushed him back into the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, when the New York Mets selected him with the 20th overall pick. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, beginning his path through the Mets’ minor league system. Peterson moved through Columbia, St. Lucie, and Binghamton over the next three seasons, refining his craft as a left-handed starter.
David Peterson Career
Minor Leagues (2017–2020)
Peterson opened his professional career with the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2017, posting a 2.45 ERA in three games. Going into 2018, MLB.com ranked him as the Mets’ second-best prospect. He began that year with the Columbia Fireflies and was promoted to the St. Lucie Mets in June, combining to go 7–10 with a 3.16 ERA in 22 starts. In 2019, he spent the year with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, going 3–6 with a 4.19 ERA and 122 strikeouts over 116 innings across 24 starts.
The 2020 season brought his long-awaited promotion to the major leagues. On July 28, 2020, the Mets selected his contract to the 40-man roster, and he made his MLB debut that same day against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Peterson earned the win after pitching 5⅔ innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts, later calling it one of the greatest days of his life.
Early Mets Years (2020–2021)
Peterson finished his rookie season in 2020 with a 6–2 record and a 3.44 ERA across 10 games, including nine starts, despite time on the injured list for left shoulder fatigue. In 2021, he recorded his 100th career strikeout on June 19 against the Washington Nationals, but his season was interrupted by an oblique strain in July. He finished 2021 with a 2–6 record and a 5.54 ERA across 15 starts, logging 66⅔ innings.
Establishing Himself (2022–2023)
Peterson took on a larger role in 2022, making 28 appearances, including 19 starts, and posting a 7–5 record with a 3.83 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 105⅔ innings. In 2023, he made 27 appearances with 21 starts, recording a 3–8 record and a 5.03 ERA while setting a then-career high with 128 strikeouts across 111 innings. On November 8, 2023, he underwent surgery to repair a damaged labrum in his left hip, with an expected recovery time of six to seven months.
Career-Defining 2024
After recovering from hip surgery, Peterson was activated from the injured list on May 29, 2024, for his season debut. He struck out a career-high 11 batters on September 3, 2024, his 29th birthday, in a 7–2 win over the Boston Red Sox. In 2024, he made 21 starts and posted a 10–3 record with a career-low 2.90 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 121 innings. He also recorded his first professional save on October 3, 2024, against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series, and his first postseason win on October 9, 2024, against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series. He finished the 2024 postseason with 12⅓ innings pitched, a 2.92 ERA, and eight strikeouts.
2025 Season and All-Star Recognition
Peterson opened 2025 strong, recording his 500th career strikeout on May 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. On June 11, 2025, he threw his first career complete-game shutout, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out six in a 5–0 win over the Washington Nationals, the first such game by a Mets left-hander since Steven Matz in July 2019. On July 10, 2025, he was named to the 2025 All-Star Game as a reserve, replacing Robbie Ray on the National League roster. He finished 2025 with 30 starts, a 9–6 record, a 4.22 ERA, and a career-high 150 strikeouts across 168⅔ innings, while also being named a Gold Glove finalist.
Driving Style and Strengths
Peterson works as a tall, durable left-handed starter who relies on a deep arsenal and strong command to handle lineups multiple times. His mix of a low-90s fastball, a sharp slider, and a changeup allows him to miss bats and limit hard contact, while his height helps him create downhill angle on his pitches. That versatility was on full display during his 2024 surge and 2025 All-Star season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Peterson’s first career complete-game shutout in 2025, his 500th career strikeout, his first MLB win at Fenway Park in 2020, and his first postseason win in 2024 stand out as career highlights. Being named to the 2025 All-Star Game and earning Gold Glove finalist recognition further cemented his place among the National League’s most effective left-handed starters.
David Peterson Career Wins
David John Peterson has built a steady Major League resume with the New York Mets, highlighted by his 2024 All-Star-caliber season and first All-Star selection in 2025. His win total has grown year by year as he has logged more innings in the Mets’ rotation.
MLB Highlights
Peterson earned his first Major League win on July 28, 2020, against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He has since added many more wins in a Mets uniform, including a career-best 10 wins in 2024 and his first postseason victory in Game 4 of the 2024 National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Other Performances
During his time in the minor leagues, Peterson helped anchor rotations for the Brooklyn Cyclones, Columbia Fireflies, St. Lucie Mets, and Binghamton Rumble Ponies from 2017 through 2019. He also represented the United States national collegiate team during the summer of 2016, further showcasing his talent on a national stage.
David Peterson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Peterson was raised by his parents, Shannon Peterson and Doug Peterson. His father, Doug, worked as a horse trainer connected to the racing world, including the great racehorse Seattle Slew, giving David early exposure to a disciplined, athletic environment. After his father’s death when David was nine, his mother Shannon helped guide him through his teenage years and into college.
Personal Life
Peterson grew up in the Denver, Colorado area and attended Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado. He went on to attend the University of Oregon, where he developed into a first-round draft pick. He continues to be active on social media, where fans can follow his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
David Peterson’s 2025 season was a defining chapter of his Major League career. He opened the year in the Mets’ starting rotation and quickly emerged as one of the team’s most consistent arms, highlighted by a complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals on June 11 and his 500th career strikeout on May 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His strong first half earned him his first career All-Star selection, as he was named to the National League roster as a reserve on July 10, 2025.
As the season progressed, Peterson’s production slipped, posting a 12.54 ERA across his final five appearances and an 8.42 ERA across his final nine appearances. Despite that late-season rough patch, his overall body of work was strong. He finished 2025 with 30 starts, a 9–6 record, a 4.22 ERA, and a career-high 150 strikeouts across 168⅔ innings, while also being named a Gold Glove finalist, a sign of his continued importance to the Mets’ pitching staff.