4 Mets players most likely to have a breakout year in 2023

2) NY Mets player most likely to have a breakout year: David Peterson

David Peterson hasn’t quite “broken out” just yet. He was very good for the team in 2020 and again in 2022 while bouncing between the majors and minors. What Peterson has yet to do is establish himself as a true major league starting pitcher. Many other clubs would probably have planned to have him as the fifth starter to begin this season. Not the Mets. They had different plans.

Those blueprints did change when they learned they’d be without Jose Quintana for several months. It pushes Peterson forward on the depth chart. He’ll have every chance he can get early on to prove he is worthy of a rotation spot. This season is his opportunity to show Mets management they don’t have to overpay in free agency for a pitcher next winter; they’ve already got a pretty good one in Peterson.

Peterson’s ceiling still has him closer to a back-end rotation arm than someone at the front of the line. Guys like him are necessary, though. And while he’ll have a long way to go before jumping over other current Mets starting pitchers presently on the roster or future players they may bring in, there is room for Peterson to make a claim to the 26-man roster and prove he belongs.

This season could still include a few trips to the minors. His remaining minor league options can come in handy when the club is at full strength with the veteran starters. No worries. He’ll get his innings.