Sean McGrath
Scouting Director, New Jersey

Name: Robbie Peto
High School: Monroe HS
Position: RHP
Commitment: North Carolina

Robbie Peto, a 2016 RHP from Monroe HS in Monroe Township took the time to answer some questions regarding his commitment to the University of North Carolina, as well as the journey that led him to being one of New Jersey's top prospects.

Peto has a wiry athletic 6-foot-4 build, with plus arm speed that produces a fastball that sits in the high 80s, while topping out at 91-92. He has an elbow climb arm action with a 3/4 arm slot that allows him to get late riding/sinking life. He has a solid feel for two plus off-speed offerings; a plus changeup that mimics the action of his fastball with late diving action down and to his arm side and a curveball with tight spin and 11-to-5 action. Peto is polished and with continued gains and improvement, he should gain a lot of attention in the MLB's 2016 First-Year Player's Draft.

PBR: Why did you choose North Carolina?

Peto: I chose The University of North Carolina for many reasons; one being it was my dream school since I was a little kid. I grew up a huge Tarheel basketball fan. When I went on my visit there, Coach Fox took me around for four hours touring the whole campus. I had immediately gained so much respect for him and also developed a relationship with him. I got a chance to pitch there later that night in a tournament and I struck out the side in the inning I pitched. It immediately felt like home. When I got to speak to the other coaches and meet the team while they were working out, I just knew that's where I wanted to be. I couldn't turn their offer down.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Peto: The other schools that I was really considering were University of Virginia, Maryland, St. John's, Rutgers, and Oklahoma State.

PBR: Because you've committed early you now have the opportunity to focus on your other goals. What goals do you have for yourself this summer and in your senior season?

Peto: Committing early really took a lot of stress off of me, but I still have a lot more work to do. I want to develop all of my pitches and be able to throw every pitch with a lot of confidence; especially my changeup. I want to be able to rear back and throw my fastball over 95 MPH. I want to win a national championship with all of my brothers from Baseball U this summer, and draw attention from MLB scouts and agents. And in my senior season, we have two goals sets; county and state championships. I want to make All-State 1st team; that's a huge goal of mine. Lastly, I want to be named as an All-American.

PBR: You play for Baseball U, one of the top programs in New Jersey and in the Northeast; how has this experience benefited you?

Peto: Playing for Baseball U has helped me out so much, it's incredible. The amount of scouts that Coach Wells got me in contact with was insane. He threw me on the mound in tough situations as I was one of the younger ones on the team. It developed me as a pitcher and I got to throw in front of all of the schools that I was interested in. I would not choose any other team over Baseball U.

PBR: What person has the greatest impact on your baseball career and why?

Peto: My dad, by far, has the greatest impact on my baseball career. Since I was young, he has been my coach. He pushed me every day to be the best player I could be, even so hard sometimes that I would want to quit. He put a lot of pressure on me but it's paid off because he made me the player I am today. To this day, he is still on top of me and he makes sure I do something every day to better myself.

PBR: What Major League pitcher would you say you most resemble and why?

Peto: A pitcher in the MLB I feel that I most resemble is Stephen Strasburg. I compare myself to him because we are both tall, skinny pitchers who love to use their fastball. I hope that I can be in the same position as he is in one day.

PBR: Who is the toughest hitter you have faced in the state?

Peto: The toughest hitter in the state that I have faced is Joey Rose from Toms River North. He is committed to Oklahoma State and he is one of my best friends. He can change the game with one swing of the bat and he flat out rips.

PBR: Which teammate would give you the toughest battle in the box (High School or Baseball U)?

Peto: My teammate that would put up the biggest battle in the box against me is on my summer team. He is from Pennsylvania. His named is Alex Kirilloff and he's committed to Liberty. He is by far the best high school hitter I've played with. He constantly gets hits and rarely strikes out. He goes up there and battles every at-bat.