Port St. Lucy – David Peterson's spring training was unique this year.
For the first time, he has established himself as a mainstay and knows he is a rock for the Mets' rotation spot.
“Obviously, it definitely feels a little different just where I am,” Peterson posted Saturday. “We can emphasize what we need to work on, we don't really take in what the outcome is and we can't focus exactly on what we're trying to do. The goal is to do what we need in the spring to prepare ourselves to do our best to start the season. It was good this spring.”
Peterson, the Mets' first round pick in 2017, enjoyed last year's breakout season, making it 10-3 with a career-high 2.90 ERA at the start of the regular season.
That follows a rough 2023 2023, when he pitched hip discomfort in 27 appearances to the 5.03 ERA.
The Southpaw underwent surgery, repairing a torn lip in his final offseason at his lower back and missed the start of the 2024 campaign.
When he returned, Peterson was by far the best version of himself the Mets saw.
“Hip surgery and fixing it was huge,” Peterson said. “I can feel better and not pitch in pain, but I can also make my body work just like I want my mechanic and my movements to be more consistent and repeatable. I make my mistakes smaller and I'm around the zone.
“It starts with that and I know what I can do, and I've seen it in certain stints over a few specific years. Being able to start 21 like last year and play the way is definitely encouraging.”
Peterson, who is expected to go out with the Marlins on Monday, is expected to be the longest tenered starter on staff and one of the sure entities of a rotation filled with question marks.
Kodai Senga pitched all 10¹/₃ innings last year due to shoulder and calf injuries, and Clay Holmes is in the transition from the Yankees to a Mets starter. The other two spots outside Peterson have injured Sean Mania and Frankie Montas, so it's unlikely they're ready for the first day, so they can get a grab.
However, last year's show represents an outlier in Peterson's career. He could be the X-factor of this rotation, depending on which version will appear in 2025.
“I know what my job is and I know the responsibility that comes with the position I am in. And I'm not underestimating that responsibility,” Peterson said. “And I like to have it, I like to be the guy around me. I want to be that guy [manager Carlos Mendoza] and [pitching coach Jeremy Hefner] You can trust it. ”
