Former Florida right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson agreed to terms with the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis.
Peterson signed for $4,530,500, the full slot value for the No. 19 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft. It’s the fourth-largest signing bonus for any former Gator baseball player, behind Wyatt Langford ($7.7 million), Jac Caglianone ($7.5 million) and Jonathan India ($5.3 million).
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Cleveland made Peterson the third pitcher off the board and the second college arm selected in the draft. He is the 21st player in program history to be selected in the first round and the 15th under Kevin O’Sullivan. Peterson is also the fifth-highest pitcher and 10th-highest player to be drafted in program history.
With Peterson signing, all six of Florida’s draft players, and one high schooler committed to the program, have agreed to their first professional contracts. Catcher Karson Bowen also signed as an undrafted free agent.
Peterson leaves Florida with a 14-15 record, 4.95 ERA, a .255 batting average against, 108 walks and 283 strikeouts over 216 1/3 innings. He made 45 of his 46 starts as a member of the weekend starting rotation and appeared in 49 games in total.
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The 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pounder out of Calvary Christian Academy in Clearwater, Florida, came to Gainesville as a top-100 draft prospect in the 2023 cycle.
Peterson earned a spot in the starting rotation as a true freshman, finishing the 2024 season strong with a 4.76 ERA, a .239 BAA and 34 strikeouts in 28 1/3 frames across the final 30 games of the season. He emerged as the No. 1 starter by the time the NCAA Tournament rolled around and earned an SEC All-Freshman Team nod.
Peterson earned a spot in the starting rotation as a true freshman, finishing the 2024 season strong with a 4.76 ERA, a .239 BAA and 34 strikeouts in 28 1/3 frames across the final 30 games of the season. He emerged as the No. 1 starter by the time the NCAA Tournament rolled around and earned an SEC All-Freshman Team nod.
The stuff projects as an MLB starter if Peterson can continue working on going deeper in games. His 60-grade fastball is in the high-90s velocity with triple-digit potential, but it can come out of the hand a bit flat, especially when overthrown. Peterson’s slider has plus-plus potential, and he began throwing his curveball more. Peterson also has a serviceable changeup that he utilized more this season.
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A four-pitch mix, a K% above 30 and a BB% that has dropped each season are all reasons to believe in Peterson at the next level. The fastball shape and lack of consistent command are reasons to doubt him.
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2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
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2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
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1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
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1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
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1986: OF Scott Ruskin – Round 1, Pick 8 (Montreal Expos) *secondary phase*
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1981: LHP Rob Murphy – Round 1, Pick 3 (Cincinnati Reds) *secondary phase*
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1981: RHP Randy O’Neal – Round 1, Pick 15 (Detroit Tigers) *secondary phase*
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1978: C Jim Watkins – Round 1, Pick 1 (Atlanta Braves) *secondary phase*
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Liam Peterson signs for full slot value with Cleveland Guardians
