Latest news with #LiamPeterson
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida RHP Liam Peterson a top-5 draft prospect heading into 2026 cycle
Teams didn't pay up for Liam Peterson coming out of high school, and now the Florida ace enters the 2026 draft cycle as one of the top arms in the class. Baseball America broke down its top 2026 draft prospects following the conclusion of the 2025 draft, and Peterson checks in at No. 5 overall. He's a bit further down at No. 9 in BA's way-too-early mock draft, but that's assuming an order that hasn't been set yet. Peterson may fall or rise a few spots depending on fit, but he's one of the very best collegiate players heading into next year. "Peterson last year cemented himself as one of the best freshman arms in the country and collected 77 strikeouts across 63 innings," Baseball America wrote. "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." Peterson spent his second summer in a row with Team USA, although he didn't pitch in the 45th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. Even with Aidan King emerging as a trusty No. 2 behind Peterson, all the pressure is on him to lead the staff after a shaky 2025 for Florida on the mound. Other Gators in the 2026 draft Florida doesn't have any other 2026 draft prospects inside Baseball America's top 100, but a pair of Gators commits are likely to come off the board on Day 1 of next year's draft. Outfielder Brady Harris has been considered a top-10 pick for most of his high school career and is all but gone to the next level. It would take a considerable drop for Florida to retain him. There's also right-hander Denton Lord, who stands at 6-foot-8 with a fastball approaching the high-90s. Projectability is likely to get him drafted, but he'd be a potential weekend starter as a freshman if Florida keeps him. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida's Liam Peterson earns spot on 2025 USA Collegiate National Team
USA Baseball announced its official 26-man roster for the 2025 Collegiate National Team on July 4, with Florida Gators ace right-hander Liam Peterson making the final cut. The 6-foot-5-inch sophomore out of Palm Harbor, Florida, will travel with Team USA to compete in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series in various locations across Japan. The start of play begins on July 8 and concludes on July 13, spanning a total of five games. Things kick off with games on July 8 and 9 at Es Con Field in Hokkaido, both starting at 4 a.m. ET, while the next two games will be held July 11 and 12 at Hard Off Eco Stadium in Niigata at 3 a.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, respectively. The series will wrap up with a lone game in Tokyo at Jingu Stadium on July 13 at 3 a.m. ET. Team USA leads the series with Japan, 24-20 (Overall: 135-110-2). Liam Peterson's 2025 campaign details 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 BAA and 1.43 WHIP, plus 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. About the Japan Collegiate All-Star Series "After a very competitive Stars versus Stripes series, we are excited to announce the 26 players who will represent the United States on international soil in the USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series," said Eric Campbell, USA Baseball's Professional and Collegiate National Team General Manager. "We are confident that the roster assembled will represent our country well, and we look forward to making the trip back to Japan for the first time since 2019 and continuing this long-standing series, which dates back to 1972." 2025 Collegiate National Team Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Check out which summer leagues Florida baseball players will be participating in
The Florida baseball program will have 15 current players participating in various summer leagues over the next couple of months. Most notably, starting right-handers Liam Peterson and Aidan King, along with 54 other premier, non-draft-eligible college players, will take part in the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp in North Carolina from June 29 to July 3. The other events the remaining 13 Gators will compete at are the Coastal Plain League (North and South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia), Northwoods League (Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois), and the Valley League in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Considered the top level of summer ball play, the Cape Cod League features eight Gators on four different teams, with right-handed pitcher Caden McDonald, infielder Landon Stripling and outfielder Hayden Yost all teammates on the Wareham Gatemen. Righties Luke McNeillie and Christian Rodriguez will compete on behalf of the Harwich Mariners while outfielder Blake Cyr and infielder Brendan Lawson suit up for the Brewster Whitecaps; outfielder Ashton Wilson is the lone UF player on the Falmouth Commodores. Meanwhile, infielder Kolt Myers and right-hander Schuyler Sandford have both seen action this summer for the Macon Bacon in the Coastal Plain League already, while left-handed pitcher McCall Biemiller will play for the Charlottesville Tom Sox and outfielder Blake Brookins is on the Purcellville Cannons in the Valley League. Incoming transfer catcher AJ Malzone is behind the dish with the Rockford Rivets and the only Gator included among the Northwoods League's rosters. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle 2025 Florida Baseball Summer League Assignments Player League Team Blake Cyr Cape Cod League Brewster Whitecaps Brendan Lawson Cape Cod League Brewster Whitecaps Ashton Wilson Cape Cod League Falmouth Commodores Luke McNeillie Cape Cod League Harwich Mariners Christian Rodriguez Cape Cod League Harwich Mariners Caden McDonald Cape Cod League Wareham Gateman Landon Stripling Cape Cod League Wareham Gateman Hayden Yost Cape Cod League Wareham Gateman Kolt Myers Coastal Plain League Macon Bacon Schuyler Sandford Coastal Plain League Macon Bacon AJ Malzone Northwoods League Rockford Rivets Aidan King USA Collegiate National Team Team USA Liam Peterson USA Collegiate National Team Team USA McCall Biemiller Valley League Charlottesville Tom Sox Blake Brookins Valley League Purcellville Cannons Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Pair of Florida baseball standout pitchers invited to USA Collegiate National Team Camp
A pair of Florida baseball players earned invitations to compete at the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp, with starting right-handers Liam Peterson and Aidan King getting the call for the Orange and Blue. They represent two of the 56 non-draft-eligible college players who received the call. They have both accepted the invites and will compete among their peers starting in late June. King, who just wrapped up his true freshman campaign with the Gators, will make his first appearance at the prestigious event, while sophomore Peterson will make his second trip of his collegiate career to the camp. The former's invitation makes him the 23rd Florida player to receive the RSVP notice since 2008 and the 18th to attend. Aidan King's 2025 campaign details King led Florida with a 2.58 ERA, .213 batting average against, 73 1/3 innings pitched and five quality starts in 2025. He 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. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Liam Peterson's 2025 campaign details As the top college pitcher for the 2026 MLB Draft per Baseball America, 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 BAA, 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. USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp Details The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp will feature 56 of the premier, non-draft-eligible college players for a five-game Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series in North Carolina from June 29 to July 3. USA Baseball will then name the final Collegiate National Team following training camp on July 3. The first game will be held at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis at 5:35 p.m. ET, while the next three contests will be played at USA Baseball's National Training Complex in Cary at 6:30 p.m. ET. The series finale will be hosted at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Collegiate National Team will compete in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series in various locations across Japan from July 8 to July 13. The remaining players from the Collegiate National Team Training Camp will play in a Fourth of July game against the Appalachian League Select Team at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis at 6:35 p.m. ET. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Conway Regional: Florida vs. ECU live updates
Conway Regional: Florida vs. ECU live updates The NCAA College Baseball Tournament begins on Friday with regional play, and Florida is considered a favorite to come out of the Conway Regional despite not being a host team. The Gators are the No. 2 seed in the region behind Coastal Carolina and face No. 3 East Carolina at noon. Right-handed ace Liam Peterson (8-3, 4.10) will get the start opposite ECU draft prospect Ethan Norby (7-5, 3.81). As always, winning game one in a double elimination setting is critical. A loss means a much more difficult path to the Super Regionals. All eyes are on Florida's offense, as Spring Brooks Stadium is a noted hitters' ballpark with short porches that benefit home-run-hitting teams. Florida has more than 100 combined homers and ranks 31st in the country, so offense is the key. Of course, they'll have to do so without two of the team's best hitters this year, Luke Heyman (arm) and Colby Shleton (hamate). If Peterson can deliver a quality start, Florida's offense should prevail. Jake Clemente is in the bullpen ready for a three-inning save, too. Stay right here with Gators Wire as first pitch comes in at noon and we provide live updates after each inning below. What channel is Florida vs East Carolina on today? TV Channel: ESPN2 ESPN2 Livestream: Fubo (free trial) Florida vs East Carolina in the Conway Regionals will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Richard Cross and Todd Walker will call the game from the booth at Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. Florida vs East Carolina time today Date: Friday, May 30 Friday, May 30 Start time: Noon ET The Florida vs East Carolina game starts at noon ET from Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
