Sam Petersen
Photo via Wilmington Blue Rocks
Sam Petersen’s performance in the Arizona Fall League has turned heads inside the Nationals organization, raising questions about whether the 22-year-old could soon join Washington’s young outfield core or make some serious waves this upcoming season.
After missing time early in the 2025 season with a leg injury, Petersen has found his rhythm in the desert. In 14 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions, he’s hitting .333 with three home runs, four doubles, and 13 RBI. His speed has remained a weapon too—he stole 23 bases in 24 attempts while batting .310 with seven homers and 28 RBI across 57 minor league games this past summer.
Saturday’s walk-off single against the Salt River Rafters highlighted Petersen’s growing confidence. The game-winner, a line drive up the middle, came off a 94.7 mph fastball and left his bat at 106.7 mph. The hit sparked a wild celebration—so wild his teammates ripped off his jersey. “I was looking for his best pitch, a fastball, and I got it,” Petersen said with a grin in a recent interview. After adjusting to several breaking balls earlier in the at-bat, he stayed ready for heat and didn’t miss.
His knack for squaring up velocity stood out again last Friday, when he went 4-for-4 and recorded four batted balls over 98 mph exit velocity. “Those are the days that are a lot of fun in baseball,” Petersen said. “I’m just out here for at bats because I missed so much time. I just want to get better and lay the groundwork going into next season.”
A standout at the University of Iowa, Petersen built his profile on bat-to-ball skills and athleticism, hitting .305 with 22 home runs, 27 doubles, 107 RBI, and 40 steals across three collegiate seasons. The Nationals selected him in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft (No. 230 overall) and signed him for $230,900.
Now ranked No. 24 among Nationals prospects by MLB Pipeline, Petersen has entered a deep field of young outfield talent, including Dylan Crews, James Wood, and Elijah Green, as well as rising names like Petry (No. 8), Franklin (No. 12), Vaquero (No. 25), and Pinckney (No. 30). Historically, just 23 percent of players drafted in Petersen’s range have reached the majors, but his recent breakout suggests he might be one of the exceptions.