Liam Peterson delivers a pitch during the Gators' intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.
Peterson Headlines Gators on 2026 Draft Board
Monday, January 8, 2024 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Four freshman Florida baseball players were ranked inside Perfect Game's top 75 overall prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft, led by right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson at No. 5 overall.
Ranked as the top right-hander in the draft, Peterson (No. 5) is followed in the rankings by left-handed hurler Frank Menendez (No. 18), righty Luke McNeillie (No. 60) and outfielder Hayden Yost (No. 70). Florida's four players in the top 75 is tied for second in the nation alongside Vanderbilt.
5. RHP Liam Peterson
18. LHP Frank Menendez
60. RHP Luke McNeillie
70. OF Hayden Yost
As a 2023 graduate of Calvary Christian High School in Palm Harbor, Fla., Peterson came to UF as the No. 34 recruit nationally on top of being the No. 8 player and No. 2 right-hander in the state. McNeillie also held status as a top-100 player out of Milton High School in Georgia, where he was the No. 89 recruit in the country as well as the No. 10 player and No. 2 righty in the state.
Hailing from Miami, Fla. as a Doral Academy Charter School product, Menendez ranked as the No. 181 recruit in the class. Also a Florida native, Yost comes to the Gators from Sickles High School in Tampa. He was the No. 99 outfielder nationally while being tabbed as the No. 83 recruit and No. 16 outfielder in the state.
The Gators open up the 2024 season with a three-game series against St. John's spanning from Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18 at Condron Family Ballpark.
Season Ticket Information
Season tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here.
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Ranked as the top right-hander in the draft, Peterson (No. 5) is followed in the rankings by left-handed hurler Frank Menendez (No. 18), righty Luke McNeillie (No. 60) and outfielder Hayden Yost (No. 70). Florida's four players in the top 75 is tied for second in the nation alongside Vanderbilt.
5. RHP Liam Peterson
18. LHP Frank Menendez
60. RHP Luke McNeillie
70. OF Hayden Yost
No. 5️⃣ on the '26 MLB Draft board 🔥 #GoGators x @PerfectGameUSA pic.twitter.com/7r0roovujM
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) January 6, 2024
As a 2023 graduate of Calvary Christian High School in Palm Harbor, Fla., Peterson came to UF as the No. 34 recruit nationally on top of being the No. 8 player and No. 2 right-hander in the state. McNeillie also held status as a top-100 player out of Milton High School in Georgia, where he was the No. 89 recruit in the country as well as the No. 10 player and No. 2 righty in the state.
Hailing from Miami, Fla. as a Doral Academy Charter School product, Menendez ranked as the No. 181 recruit in the class. Also a Florida native, Yost comes to the Gators from Sickles High School in Tampa. He was the No. 99 outfielder nationally while being tabbed as the No. 83 recruit and No. 16 outfielder in the state.
The Gators open up the 2024 season with a three-game series against St. John's spanning from Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18 at Condron Family Ballpark.
Season Ticket Information
Season tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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