Sam Petersen Stats & Scouting Report

AB	56
AVG	.304
OBP	.394
SLG	.554
HR	3

Full name Samuel Matthew Petersen
Born 01/20/2003 in Ankeny, IA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Iowa
Drafted in the 8th round (230th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2024 (signed for $230,900).

View Draft Report

School: Iowa
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 40/High
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 45. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

Petersen is a 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder who has provided a solid blend of speed and power for Iowa throughout his career. He had 11 homers and a team-best 20 stolen bases in a standout 2023 season and is a career .305/.424/.530 hitter in his three seasons with the program. Petersen dealt with shin splints during the 2024 season which wound up ending his year in late April, but scouts saw enough to think of him as a potential mid-day two talent. He’s solidly built and employs a crouched stance in the righthanded batter’s box with solid bat speed and the raw power to homer to both gaps, though his offensive game does come with a decent amount of swing and miss. He owns a career 22.5% strikeout rate and this spring he made contact at a 72% overall rate. Petersen is a powerful runner who turns in plus home-to-first times out of the box and has gone 40-for-44 (90.9%) in stolen bases in his three years with the program. That speed might give him a chance in center field in pro ball, though he has mostly played left field at Iowa and his fringy arm is probably not the best fit in right.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: If not for shin splints he contended with as an Iowa junior, Petersen had a chance to be drafted a bit higher than the eighth round in 2024. That’s where he landed with the Nationals, who signed him for a slot value bonus of $230,900. Petersen saw action in seven games for Low-A Fredericksburg after signing but got a late start to his 2025 season after dealing with a hamstring injury. He reached High-A Wilmington on June 5 and then played in the Arizona Fall League after the season to add at-bats.

Scouting Report: Petersen has a strong, 6-foot frame and a hard-nosed playing style. The Nationals have helped coax greater exit velocity out of his righthanded bat, while giving him a chance to prove himself in center field after he played mostly left in college. Petersen hits the ball with authority to all fields with a line-drive approach. He takes aggressive swings and is beginning to take shots to his pull side, with the potential for above-average power. His max exit velocity increased to 110 mph with wood after reaching 109 in 2024 with metal. Petersen does well staying within his zone and keeps strikeouts in check, but his zone-whiff rate of nearly 27% could curtail his production against more advanced pitchers. He is an above-average runner out of the box who is faster underway. His baserunning savvy is apparent in his 18-for-18 showing on stolen bases for Wilmington. Petersen is an average center fielder with a below-average arm that might limit him to left field.

The Future: Petersen was one of the top performers in the South Atlantic League while healthy, which is notable given that Wilmington suppresses home runs like few minor league parks. He showed the potential to be at least a fourth outfielder and potentially a regular if his power and speed continue to play. Petersen is ready for Double-A.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40

Draft Prospects

School: Iowa Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 40/High
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 45. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

Petersen is a 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder who has provided a solid blend of speed and power for Iowa throughout his career. He had 11 homers and a team-best 20 stolen bases in a standout 2023 season and is a career .305/.424/.530 hitter in his three seasons with the program. Petersen dealt with shin splints during the 2024 season which wound up ending his year in late April, but scouts saw enough to think of him as a potential mid-day two talent. He’s solidly built and employs a crouched stance in the righthanded batter’s box with solid bat speed and the raw power to homer to both gaps, though his offensive game does come with a decent amount of swing and miss. He owns a career 22.5% strikeout rate and this spring he made contact at a 72% overall rate. Petersen is a powerful runner who turns in plus home-to-first times out of the box and has gone 40-for-44 (90.9%) in stolen bases in his three years with the program. That speed might give him a chance in center field in pro ball, though he has mostly played left field at Iowa and his fringy arm is probably not the best fit in right.

Career Transactions

OF Sam Petersen assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
OF Sam Petersen assigned to Wilmington Blue Rocks from Fredericksburg Nationals.
Fredericksburg Nationals activated OF Sam Petersen from the 7-day injured list.
Fredericksburg Nationals sent OF Sam Petersen on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
Fredericksburg Nationals sent OF Sam Petersen on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
Fredericksburg Nationals sent OF Sam Petersen on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
Fredericksburg Nationals sent OF Sam Petersen on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
Fredericksburg Nationals placed OF Sam Petersen on the 7-day injured list.
CF Sam Petersen assigned to Washington Nationals.
CF Sam Petersen roster status changed by Washington Nationals.
OF Sam Petersen assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals.
Washington Nationals signed OF Sam Petersen.
OF Sam Petersen assigned to Iowa Hawkeyes.