Florida’s Liam Peterson Inks Deal With Guardians

The final Gator selected in the 2026 MLB Draft put pen to paper Friday and secured the largest payout. 

Former Florida pitcher Liam Peterson signed with the Cleveland Guardians for his full slot value of $4,530,500, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. 

Selected No. 19 overall, Peterson became Florida’s fifth-highest selected pitcher and coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s eighth-highest draft pick July 11. He highlighted five other Gators selected this year, bringing the program’s total to 237 draft picks. 

Cleveland hadn’t drafted a pitcher in the first round since selecting Gavin Williams No. 23 at the 2021 MLB Draft, but bought into Peterson’s potential.

“We are ecstatic about Liam Peterson and drafting him,” Paul Gillispie, Guardians senior vice president of scouting, said on July 11. “We look forward to partnering with him and helping him become the best right-handed starting pitcher he can become.”

Peterson proved his arm strength in 2026, increasing his fastball from the mid-90s to 98-99 mph. He chucked his first-career complete-game win May 15, when Florida run-ruled Louisiana State 11-1 during his final regular season start, striking out 11 Tigers. 

Appearing in the weekend rotation for a third straight season, the right-hander produced a 4.59 ERA across 84 1/3 innings pitched in his 16 starts. He compiled 111 strikeouts, ranking seventh in the SEC and 25th nationally.

Peterson set the tone for Florida during its SEC opener 1-0 win against South Carolina on March 13, sitting down 10 batters across six scoreless innings. He didn’t maintain consistency on the mound, though, posting a 1-2 record and a 4.03 ERA in his first eight appearances, resulting in O’Sullivan moving him into the Saturday role ahead of the series opener against Georgia on April 10.

Across three seasons at Florida, he boasted a 5.04 career ERA and 14-16 record. In 2025, he led the team in wins (8), strikeouts (96) and games started (15). In 2024, he earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition after recording a 4.76 ERA and 34 strikeouts during his final eight starts. During his full 18 appearances, he registered a 6.43 ERA, 77 strikeouts and a 3-6 record. 

Peterson joins 12 other pitchers selected by the Guardians in 2026, starting their journey in the pitching developmental pipeline.

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