With preseason scrimmages underway, the Florida Gators inch closer to the opening weekend of the 2026 college baseball season.
After their defeat in the 2025 Conway Regional, the Gators were determined to address a pitching staff that had lost seven pitchers to the transfer portal and two to the MLB Draft.
In response, Florida added three transfer pitchers, including Ricky Reeth (Notre Dame), Russell Sandefer (UCF) and Cooper Walls (Hawaii). In addition, it added freshman pitchers Eli Blair, Jackson Hoyt, Minjae Seo, Cooper Moss and Rivers Kurland.
But one constant of the Gators’ pitching staff is its two leaders, junior Liam Peterson and sophomore Aidan King. Both were Florida’s weekend starters during 2025 and will once again lead the pack.
In 2025, Peterson logged an 8-4 record in 16 appearances on the mound, recording a 4.28 ERA with 96 strikeouts. Regarded as one of the highest-ranked prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft, Peterson earned a First Team Preseason All-American nod from Perfect Game.
But Peterson is determined to show his capabilities on the mound.
“It’s a cool thing to see your hard work being recognized,” Peterson said. “But, I have to be where my feet are right now. I can’t celebrate that when I really haven’t thrown a pitch yet this year.”
Meanwhile, King was selected as a second-team pitcher, marking his first-career preseason All-American appearance. As a freshman, King delivered a 7-2 record and a 2.58 ERA, the lowest mark for a Gator across a full season since Brady Singer’s 2.55 in 2018.
King added 79 strikeouts, earning him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. But, like Peterson, King has put aside the preseason accolade.
“You still have to do what you’re expected to do,” King said. “You got to throw every pitch and go out there and compete and dominate everybody.”
The Jacksonville native had one of his most impressive outings against No. 1 Texas. In game three, King threw nine strikeouts and allowed zero runs in seven innings as Florida took home their first series against a No. 1 team since 2016.
Peterson and King have grown as teammates over the course of the offseason, practicing and training together while also adding in some golf. Both also spent time together at the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp back in June.
“We’re together all year,” Peterson said. “Off the field, we hang out a lot. I think that helps us a lot on the field.”
In addition, the Gators’ impressive midseason turnaround during SEC play in 2025 proved to be a learning experience for the duo, as both grew to play more freely.
Florida went from 1-11 to 15-15 in conference play after ending the regular season with six straight SEC series victories. Peterson and King were at the forefront of the Gators’ late-season surge.
“If you play loose, you’re more than likely going to win,” King said. “With a closer group of teammates, it’s going to make the game a lot more fun.”
With new names and familiar faces, Florida looks to improve upon its pitching in 2025. Peterson and King have expressed their confidence in the group, with Peterson citing it as one of the most complete pitching staffs during his Gators career.
For King, the sky is the limit for this year’s squad.
“The guys got a little bit of a taste of what pitching is like in the SEC and the tournament,” King said. “The ceiling is high for sure.”
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian is a senior journalism major and the baseball reporter for the Spring of 2026. He previously served as the soccer reporter in the fall of 2025. He enjoys playing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about South Florida sports.
