Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Baseball America recently unveiled its updated list of top-100 prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft, with Florida ace right-hander Liam Peterson coming in at No. 5 overall.
 
In being ranked a top-five overall prospect for next year's draft, Peterson represents Baseball America's No. 1 pitcher and No. 2 college player in the class.
 
"Peterson last year cemented himself as one of the best freshman arms in the country and collected 77 strikeouts across 63 innings. Peterson picked up right where he left off—and then some—and pitched to a 4.28 ERA with a career-best 96 strikeouts across 69.1 innings. The 6-foot-5 righthander features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that flashes ample carry through the zone, a pitch he pairs with a mid-to-upper-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane tilt, an above-average high-80s changeup that flashes both tumble and fade and a seldom-used high-70s-to-low-80s curveball that's distinct in shape from his slider. Peterson's slider and changeup both generated a whiff rate of 43% and his strike-throwing took a step forward since last season."
– Baseball America
 
Deployed as a weekend starter for the second time in as many seasons in 2025, Peterson served as staff ace from start to finish and led the Gators in victories (eight), games started (15) and strikeouts (96). Compiling 69 1/3 innings, he posted a 4.28 ERA, .250 batting average against, 1.43 WHIP and four quality starts while striking out 11 or more batters in three outings. His 12.5 strikeouts per nine ranked fifth in the SEC and 20th nationally.
 
Peterson remained busy into the summer, traveling to North Carolina for USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp for the second-straight offseason. Earning a spot on the official 26-man roster, the Palm Harbor, Fla. native traveled to Japan for the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 8-13.
 
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