Feb. 4, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ET

The start of the 2026 college baseball campaign is just around the corner, and the Florida Gators’ ace starting pitcher has already accumulated a haul of preseason hardware.

Junior Liam Peterson was named Baseball America’s Preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday in the publication’s SEC College Baseball Preview. The right-hander has also picked up First Team Preseason All-American honors from both Baseball America and Perfect Game, and was one of 20 players included on Baseball America’s Preseason College Pitcher of the Year Watch List.

“Two years of refinement have led Peterson into his draft season as the top-ranked starting pitcher in the country, a distinction he is aware of and does not take lightly,” author Jacob Rudner begins.

“The 6-foot-5 righty is armed with a fastball that tickles triple digits and explodes out of his uniquely high 6-foot-7 release point. His slider, changeup and curveball all flash plus, and he added a two-seam variant this offseason to challenge righthanders—an addition inspired by former Gator and current Atlanta Brave Hurston Waldrep,” he continues.

“If Peterson can live around the strike zone in 2026, he will be a tough act to top at the national level, not just in the SEC.”

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The Palm Harbor product struggled to start his Gainesville tenure, posting a 3-6 record with a 6.43 ERA in 18 total appearances — 16 of them starts — over 63 innings. However, he picked up steam as the season wore on, putting up a 4.76 ERA with 34 strikeouts in his final 28 1/3 frames, while finishing with 77 strikeouts against 44 walks; he served as the team’s Game 1 starter throughout the NCAA Tournament.

Peterson’s sophomore season saw the righty break out, ranking 20th nationally and fifth in the SEC with 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings, representing the third-highest rate for a single season in program history. He logged an 8-4 record and a 4.28 ERA in 16 games over 69 1/3 innings, while notching 96 strikeouts against 32 walks — good enough to lead the team in wins, starts and strikeouts.

The Gator ace tossed a career-high four quality starts while striking out 11 or more batters in three separate outings last spring. It is no wonder that the ceiling is extremely high for the junior hurler this season.

Florida baseball opens its 2026 schedule on Friday, Feb. 13, against UAB inside Condon Family Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.

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