Brendan Lawson busts it out of the batter's box during the Gators' game against Alabama on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.
Lawson Headlines Four Gators in 2027 Draft Rankings
Saturday, August 30, 2025 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Four Florida Gators can be found among Baseball America's rankings of the top college prospects for the 2027 MLB Draft, featuring rising sophomore infielder Brendan Lawson at No. 1 in the class.
Following Lawson in the 2027 college draft rankings were right-handed pitchers Aidan King (No. 10), Jackson Barberi (No. 46) and Joshua Whritenour (No. 50). Baseball America's debut installment of 2027 rankings was released on Aug. 29 and included the top-50 college players in the class.
Florida Gators in BA's 2027 Top College Draft Prospects
1. INF Brendan Lawson
10. RHP Aidan King
46. RHP Jackson Barberi
50. RHP Joshua Whritenour
Opening as the top college player in the 2027 draft crop, Lawson started 60 of 61 games for the Gators as a true freshman in 2025 while hitting .317/.417/.522 for a .939 OPS. Earning Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-America status, the Toronto, Ontario native totaled 10 homers, one triple, 14 doubles, 48 runs and eight steals while ranking second on the team with 61 RBI. Lawson also finished second on the roster with 15 multi-RBI contests and 23 multi-hit games while seeing action at first, second and third base.
Setting a program record with four SEC weekly honors during the 2025 campaign, King led Florida with a 2.58 ERA, .213 batting average against, 73 1/3 innings pitched and five quality starts. King posted the lowest ERA by a Gator across a full season since Brady Singer in 2018 (2.55) while posting a 7-2 record, 1.11 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 and 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The SEC All-Freshman Team member was nearly untouchable across his final five starts, going 3-1 with a 0.94 ERA, .192 BAA and 29-to-10 K-to-BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings pitched.
Producing a respectable rookie season in his own right, Barberi turned in a 2-1 record and 4.45 ERA across 20 appearances including five starts. Across 32 1/3 innings pitched, the Snellville, Ga. product fanned 41 batters against 19 walks and was involved in two combined shutouts over the course of the year.
Although Whritenour missed the 2025 season due to injury, he comes into 2026 as a top-50 prospect for the 2027 MLB Draft nonetheless. Lauded as a top-100 recruit nationally out of A3 Academy, the right-hander will add essential depth to an already talented UF pitching staff.
The Gators are set to begin their 2025 fall practice season on Monday, Oct. 6 at Condron Family Ballpark (time TBA) with the gates once again open to all fans.
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Following Lawson in the 2027 college draft rankings were right-handed pitchers Aidan King (No. 10), Jackson Barberi (No. 46) and Joshua Whritenour (No. 50). Baseball America's debut installment of 2027 rankings was released on Aug. 29 and included the top-50 college players in the class.
Florida Gators in BA's 2027 Top College Draft Prospects
1. INF Brendan Lawson
10. RHP Aidan King
46. RHP Jackson Barberi
50. RHP Joshua Whritenour
Opening as the top college player in the 2027 draft crop, Lawson started 60 of 61 games for the Gators as a true freshman in 2025 while hitting .317/.417/.522 for a .939 OPS. Earning Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-America status, the Toronto, Ontario native totaled 10 homers, one triple, 14 doubles, 48 runs and eight steals while ranking second on the team with 61 RBI. Lawson also finished second on the roster with 15 multi-RBI contests and 23 multi-hit games while seeing action at first, second and third base.
Setting a program record with four SEC weekly honors during the 2025 campaign, King led Florida with a 2.58 ERA, .213 batting average against, 73 1/3 innings pitched and five quality starts. King posted the lowest ERA by a Gator across a full season since Brady Singer in 2018 (2.55) while posting a 7-2 record, 1.11 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 and 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The SEC All-Freshman Team member was nearly untouchable across his final five starts, going 3-1 with a 0.94 ERA, .192 BAA and 29-to-10 K-to-BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings pitched.
Producing a respectable rookie season in his own right, Barberi turned in a 2-1 record and 4.45 ERA across 20 appearances including five starts. Across 32 1/3 innings pitched, the Snellville, Ga. product fanned 41 batters against 19 walks and was involved in two combined shutouts over the course of the year.
Although Whritenour missed the 2025 season due to injury, he comes into 2026 as a top-50 prospect for the 2027 MLB Draft nonetheless. Lauded as a top-100 recruit nationally out of A3 Academy, the right-hander will add essential depth to an already talented UF pitching staff.
The Gators are set to begin their 2025 fall practice season on Monday, Oct. 6 at Condron Family Ballpark (time TBA) with the gates once again open to all fans.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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