Sam Petersen

Petersen broke out in 2025 by slashing .297/.398/.490 with six home runs, 18 steals, an 11.6 percent walk rate and an 18 percent strikeout rate in 44 games for High-A, good for a 166 wRC+. Petersen's top tool is his plus speed, which makes him a threat on the bases and allows him to project as an average defender in center field, despite fringe-average arm strength. He dealt with shin splints in college at Iowa and missed over a month at the beginning of 2025 with a hamstring injury and then another few weeks at the end of the year with an undisclosed injury, so durability is currently a weakness for Petersen. The righty-hitting outfielder went to the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time and slashed .305/.391/.542 with three home runs, two steals and a 21:7 K:BB in 69 plate appearances. His stock is trending up this offseason, as he looks like a potential bat-first center fielder or well-rounded left fielder, but the 23-year-old Petersen will be expected to handle his assignment to Double-A without much trouble, given his age. Read Past Outlooks