Early Sunday morning, undrafted free agents were able to sign with any team of their liking for a maximum amount of $20,000. The Dodgers were one of many organizations that took advantage but just weren’t as active. They did manage to pick up 6 foot 4 inch, 225-pound right-handed pitcher Robbie Peto.
Peto, 21, has been through the draft process before. In 2016, the Los Angeles Angels picked him in the 30th round out of Monroe Township High School, but he decided to play college ball. Then was drafted in 2019 by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Stetson University in Florida but again, decided to take his chances on the next draft. Unfortunately for him, the COVID-19 pandemic saw the draft shortened to only five rounds, dramatically reducing his chances of being drafted.
In Robbie’s first year at Stetson University, he threw for 74.2 innings and held a 3.98 ERA with a 78/28 K/BB. But what he did in his four 2020 starts before baseball was shutdown is pretty impressive. In his first start, he threw a no-no for six innings until giving up a hit in the 7th. His final line for the game: 7.0 IP, 12 K, 1 H, 2 BB. This performance earned him Atlantic Sun Conference pitcher of the week. Altogether, before the season was canceled, he would pitch for 25.1 innings and rack up 41 strikeouts while allowing 5 earned runs (1.78 ERA). Hitters against had an average of .259 in 2019, which dropped to .172 in 2020. Of course, you can argue the sample size and that his 2019 season nearly started the same, but his strikeout rate spiked. In his first four games in 2019, he K’d 25 batters compared to 41 this year while pitching only three and two-third innings more.
Here’s a couple takes on him:
Notable NDFA signing for the Dodgers here in Stetson ace Robbie Peto. Big physical RHP, sits 88-93 mph and has touched higher, good CH/usable breaker, throws strikes. #Dodgers #MLBDraft https://t.co/BmHWWsU5i4
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 14, 2020
Great get here by Dodgers. Was #180 on my board. Up to 97 with some big strike out numbers this year. Was a 26th round pick last year by Rays. Just needs to stay healthy. NJ native. https://t.co/cLYgW06nX6
— SF Draft Talk (@brian_recca) June 14, 2020
Since scouting grades on him are scarce, here’s some footage:
Make that two more K's for @Robbie_Peto in the inning. He's got five on the night. pic.twitter.com/X5UzttnLAx
— Stetson Baseball (@StetsonBaseball) February 23, 2020
#ASUNBSB ⚾️ | After surrendering a lead-off double, @StetsonBaseball Robbie Peto gets the next three batters to maintain a 1-0 Hatter lead. pic.twitter.com/JaDuX9X5IU
— #ASUNBSB⚾ (@ASUNBSB) May 23, 2019
Robbie Peto has cruised through three innings, striking out 5 Seminole hitters in the first nine outs! #HatsOff @StetsonBaseball pic.twitter.com/k4xw547Aq6
— #ASUNBSB⚾ (@ASUNBSB) May 8, 2019
His motivation to sign with the Dodgers is inspiring and is covered in a USA Today affiliated news site:
On the eve of the second anniversary of his close friend and former college teammate Zach Attianese's untimely passing, Robbie Peto elected to sign with the Dodgers. https://t.co/QfR6PiMI8z
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) June 15, 2020
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Photo credit: gohatters.com