Two Gators Named to Baseball America Preseason All-American Teams

Florida pitchers Liam Peterson and Luke McNeillie were named to the 2026 Preseason All-America teams, which were announced Tuesday. 

Peterson, the Gators ace, made the first team and McNeillie made the second team

The selection for Peterson marks his second first-team pitcher award in the last month, with Perfect Game also giving the junior first-team honors in January. Coming off an 8-4 record and a 4.28 ERA last season, Peterson is one of the top prospects in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan already announced Peterson will be the Gators’ Friday night starter.

Florida is counting on Peterson to lead the Gators to Omaha after back-to-back disappointing postseason performances. 

In his freshman year Peterson struggled to get going in the College World Series. Last season, in his lone postseason start, Peterson allowed five hits and four runs (two earned) over 1 1/3 innings against East Carolina in the Conway Regional.

McNeillie, also entering his junior season, will either be the mid-week starter or remain a reliever. The Baseball America selection marked his first All-American honor of his career. 

McNeillie established himself as one of O’Sullivan’s most reliable relievers playing in a team-high 28 games last season. He finished with a 4.82 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a .230 batting average.

The Gators continue preseason practice before they kick off their 2026 campaign next week. Florida opens  the season Feb. 13 when it starts a three-game series against UAB at the Condron Family Ballpark. 

Category: College Baseball, Gators Baseball, SEC