Florida’s Liam Peterson Leads Group of Five Gators Into 2026 MLB Draft
As the 2026 MLB Draft looms, a group of Florida Gators wait to see where they will be continuing their baseball careers. At the top of the list, Florida right-hander Liam Peterson could become the program’s 21st first-round selection.
Peterson is the highest-ranked of five Gators included in MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects, coming in at No. 20. He would be Florida’s first opening-round selection since Jac Caglianone went sixth overall to the Kansas City Royals in 2024.
The MLB Draft starts Saturday at 1 p.m. with the first four rounds, where 135 players will wait to hear their name called. The remaining 16 rounds are scheduled for Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Florida has produced 231 MLB Draft picks and has had at least one player selected in every draft since 1997, excluding the COVID-19-shortened draft in 2020. The program boasts 20 first-round picks.
Peterson enters the draft coming off a 2026 season with a 4.59 ERA punching out 111 batters. Peterson was swapped out with right-hander Aidan King in early April, getting put into the rotation’s Saturday slot after some inconsistencies on the mound. Even with the occasional struggles during the 2026 season Peterson remains one of the top arms slated to be selected on Saturday.
In a sit-down interview with former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd on MLB Network, Peterson understood the questions that may be surrounding his ability to be a consistent big-league pitcher but has plenty of faith in what he can bring to an MLB franchise.
“I can’t sit here and disagree with you. I certainly am not happy with the way I have performed,” Peterson said, “but like you said, I know what I can be, and I know what I will be.”
O’Dowd then asked what Peterson sees himself as in the big leagues and what level he will perform at when his development is said and done.
“I don’t want to sound cocky or anything coming off of this,” Peterson said, “but I think I really have the potential to be a Cy Young top-end starter in the MLB.”
Peterson is joined in MLB Pipline’s rankings by outfielder Kyle Jones, right-handed pitchers Russell Sandefer and Luke McNeillie and infielder Ethan Suroweic.
Jones is the second-highest-ranked Gator at No. 135 after a big year at the plate. He led the Gators with 16 doubles and 22 multi-hit games while totaling 71 hits and a career-high six home runs.
Sandefer ranks No. 177 after finishing the season with a 3-2 record and a 4.42 ERA.
McNeillie comes in at No. 185 after finishing the season with a career-best 3.97 ERA, 3-0 record and 48 strikeouts
Surowiec rounds out Florida’s group at No. 249. He was the only player for Florida to start all 62 games in 2026 and finished with a .317 batting average with 63 RBIs.
Surowiec has also re-signed an NIL agreement with Florida Victorious for the 2027 season, leaving open the possibility of returning to the Gators if he does not sign professionally.
Peterson should learn his professional destination during Saturday’s opening rounds. Florida’s other draft-eligible players may have to wait longer as the draft continues through Sunday.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Baseball
