MATT PETERSON

2/11/82; 2nd '00 (New York Mets); Alexandria, LA (HS)
R/R; 6-5, 185

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
BB
K
ERA
2001 A (NYM)
2-6-0
18
14
79.1
87
29
72
4.99
2001 A- (NYM)
2-2-0
6
6
33.1
26
14
19
1.62
2002 A+ (NYM)
1-0-0
1
1
6.0
5
2
5
1.50
2002 A (NYM)
8-10-0
26
26
137.2
109
61
153
3.86
2003 AA (NYM)
1-2-0
6
6
31.1
29
20
23
3.45
2003 A+ (NYM)
9-2-0
15
15
84.0
65
24
73
1.71
2004 AA (NYM)
6-4-0
19
18
104.2
97
45
90
3.27
2004 AA
3-2-0
7
7
36.0
36
22
29
6.25

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
BB
K
ERA
OAVG
OOBP
OSLG
2005 AA
11-9-0
27
26
143.2
156
74
87
5.51
.281
.373
.484

The Pirates acquired Peterson in the Kris Benson trade. He was regarded at the time as the Mets' second-best pitching prospect, after Scott Kazmir. His big pitch is a curve, and he throws a fastball that reaches the low 90s, along with a developing changeup. The Pirates assigned him initially to Altoona. He pitched badly in almost all his starts for the Curve, with the primary problem being poor control. He still had a pretty good K rate, so it's unlikely that his stuff is an issue. He was placed on the 40-man roster after the season. His struggles in Altoona were initially thought to be connected to a pulled muscle he suffered shortly before the trade, an injury he tried to pitch through. The control problems got even worse in 2005, however, as Peterson returned to Altoona and struggled badly. Although he had good games every now and then, he showed no progress over the whole course of the season. After the season he went to the Arizona Fall League and had more trouble than ever finding the strike zone. He also has suffered a drop in velocity, as he now throws only in the upper 80s after previously hitting 93 consistently. Pirates' farm director Brian Graham said in an interview that three different coaches have worked with Peterson, with no progress, so it's difficult to be optimistic about him.

The Pirates removed Peterson from the 40-man roster in December to make room for Roberto Hernandez. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the minors. He'll probably return to AA for a third year.

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