BALTIMORE — In the midst of his best season yet, the league has taken note of David Peterson. The left-hander became the fourth player and first starting pitcher selected to represent the Mets at the MLB All-Star Game next week at Truist Park in Atlanta, the team announced Thursday.
It will be the first trip to the Midsummer Classic for Peterson.
“It’s a huge honor, and it’s something that you strive for as a kid and as a baseball player,” Peterson said. “I’m extremely excited and just very humbled by the honor.”
The Mets’ first-round pick in 2017, he reached the big leagues in 2020 but struggled on and off with a hip injury he had dealt with since college. After an up-and-down 2023 season, Peterson underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.
He hasn’t been the same since — he’s been better.
“I’m proud of him, especially after what he went through last year and the year before, with the injury and how far he’s come,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s a huge part of this team and of that rotation, and for him to get rewarded, it’s pretty special.”
Peterson, 29, returned in late May 2024 to make 21 regular-season starts, going 10-3 with a career-best 2.90 ERA and a 3.67 FIP. This season, he’s been effective with a five-pitch mix, getting outs on the ground with his sinker and slider, with Statcast rating him in the 94th percentile in ground-ball outs. He’s able to effectively limit barrels and hard contact, and strikes out around 20% of hitters he faces.
Facing the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon, he threw seven shutout innings before being charged with a run in the eighth inning. A month ago, he threw his first career complete-game shutout and followed it up with seven solid innings against the Atlanta Braves.
Mendoza, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and assistant general manager Eduardo Brizeuela delivered the news to Peterson in between games. Peterson had no idea he was even in consideration.
“Obviously, [there was] excitement and emotion, but a little shock, to be honest,” Peterson said. “I kind of saw some of the guys get replaced and whatnot, put it out of my head and let the game control it. So yeah, I got a little caught off guard when everybody called me.”
Historically, the Mets have struggled to play well in Atlanta, but Peterson’s June 17 start bodes well for his appearance Tuesday at the All-Star Game, where he will join shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz.
Peterson is hoping to have his son Callahan on the field with him for the Home Run Derby on Monday night, having grown up watching other players take their kids on to the field for the derby as well. While his family was “full of joy” at learning the news, Callahan was preoccupied.
“We told him, but he was too busy playing catch so he didn’t really think much of it,” Peterson said. “I think he’ll have a lot of fun.”