Sam Petersen Stats & Scouting Report

AB	31
AVG	.387
OBP	.524
SLG	.516
HR	1

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: 40/High

Track Record: Petersen starred for Iowa for three seasons but missed a chunk of his draft year with shin splints. The Nationals drafted him in the eighth round in 2024, and he got a taste of pro ball with Low-A Fredericksburg. Petersen got a late start this season while recovering from a hamstring injury, but once healthy he quickly hit his way to High-A Wilmington in early June.

Scouting Report: Petersen is a 6-foot, 200-pound, righthanded-hitting outfielder with a hard-nosed playing style. He has good bat speed and lines the ball to both gaps with an all-fields approach. He can muscle up for home run power when hunting his pitch, but his hitting focus is geared more toward finding grass and using his plus speed for extra bases. Petersen was a high-success basestealer in college, and that has carried over to pro ball. He played mostly left field in college, but the Nationals are giving him a look in center. He doesn’t throw well enough for right field.

The Future: Peterson has a chance to develop into a hit-over-power, righthanded extra outfielder who runs well.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45.

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

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 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.