Oregon’s ace is now one step closer to the big leagues. On Monday night at the 2017 MLB Draft, the New York Mets selected David Peterson with the 20th overall pick in the first round.
First-round draft pick. @OregonBaseball pitcher David Peterson selected 20th overall by @Mets. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/VUgvfhJQfj
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) June 13, 2017
Peterson was at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene with family and friends, awaiting the moment his name was called. Here was the moment he had been waiting for:
The moment you hear your name called in the 1st round of #MLBdraft17 @GoDucks @Mets pic.twitter.com/DSD3CbilXK
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) June 13, 2017
This year, Peterson went 11-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 15 starts. His 140 strikeouts were both a school record and the second most in the entire nation. Back on April 20, Peterson struck out a school record 20 batters. Overall, Peterson went 19-15 with a 3.44 ERA and 273 strikeouts in three years with the Ducks.
This is Oregon’s highest pick in the modern era since pitcher Tyler Anderson was also selected 20th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Peterson’s slot at No. 20 overall has a $2.99 million signing bonus associated with it.