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USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida RHP Liam Peterson a top-5 draft prospect heading into 2026 cycle
Teams didn't pay up for Liam Peterson coming out of high school, and now the Florida ace enters the 2026 draft cycle as one of the top arms in the class. Baseball America broke down its top 2026 draft prospects following the conclusion of the 2025 draft, and Peterson checks in at No. 5 overall. He's a bit further down at No. 9 in BA's way-too-early mock draft, but that's assuming an order that hasn't been set yet. Peterson may fall or rise a few spots depending on fit, but he's one of the very best collegiate players heading into next year. "Peterson last year cemented himself as one of the best freshman arms in the country and collected 77 strikeouts across 63 innings," Baseball America wrote. "Peterson picked up right where he left off—and then some—and pitched to a 4.28 ERA with a career-best 96 strikeouts across 69.1 innings. "The 6-foot-5 righthander features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that flashes ample carry through the zone, a pitch he pairs with a mid-to-upper-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane tilt, an above-average high-80s changeup that flashes both tumble and fade and a seldom-used high-70s-to-low-80s curveball that's distinct in shape from his slider. Peterson's slider and changeup both generated a whiff rate of 43% and his strike-throwing took a step forward since last season." Peterson spent his second summer in a row with Team USA, although he didn't pitch in the 45th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. Even with Aidan King emerging as a trusty No. 2 behind Peterson, all the pressure is on him to lead the staff after a shaky 2025 for Florida on the mound. Other Gators in the 2026 draft Florida doesn't have any other 2026 draft prospects inside Baseball America's top 100, but a pair of Gators commits are likely to come off the board on Day 1 of next year's draft. Outfielder Brady Harris has been considered a top-10 pick for most of his high school career and is all but gone to the next level. It would take a considerable drop for Florida to retain him. There's also right-hander Denton Lord, who stands at 6-foot-8 with a fastball approaching the high-90s. Projectability is likely to get him drafted, but he'd be a potential weekend starter as a freshman if Florida keeps him. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox draft College World Series champion pitcher with their fourth pick of night
Just three weeks ago, right-hander Anthony Eyanson helped LSU win the College World Series. Now, he's a member of a pitching-heavy Red Sox draft class. Boston selected Eyanson with its third round pick at No. 87 overall Sunday, making him the third SEC pitcher (and fourth college player) the club selected on Day 1 of the draft. The slot value of the pick is $907,200. Earlier, the Red Sox took Oklahoma righty Kyson Witherspoon at No. 15 and Tennessee righty Marcus Phillips at No. 33. Eyanson, a 20-year-old California native, pitched for UC San Diego for two years before transferring to Baton Rouge for 2025. For the Tigers this year, he logged a 3.00 ERA and struck out 152 batters in 108 innings in 20 games (18 starts). He was a First-Team All-American, per Baseball America, along with Witherspoon. 'Another guy that throws a ton of strikes,' said Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson. 'Has really good secondaries (pitches) and has dominated from a performance standpoint this year.' Eyanson started the final game of the collegiate season when LSU beat Coastal Carolina to sweep a best-of-three championship series in Omaha on June 22. In a 5-3 Tigers win, he went 6 ⅓ innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while recording nine strikeouts. 'To do it at a school like LSU where it's a packed house every night, you've got to be tough and enjoy that craziness in the moment,' Pearson said. 'You have to have players like that if you want to pitch at Fenway Park.' Eyanson was ranked the No. 40 prospect in the draft, per MLB Pipeline. Here's the site's scouting report on him: 'Eyanson served UC San Diego as a solid starter for two seasons before electing to transfer to LSU. He showed top-two-rounds potential last summer by working with a 93-97 mph fastball and a hammer curveball while with the U.S. collegiate national team and in the Cape Cod League. His stuff wasn't as sharp early in his junior season but he came on strong in the final two months to rank third in NCAA Division I in wins (12) and strikeouts (152 in 108 innings) and help the Tigers win the College World Series. 'Eyanson's slider has become his best pitch during his first season in Baton Rouge, parking at 82-85 mph and eliciting empty swings in and out of the strike zone thanks to its tremendous depth. His upper-70s curveball has been solid but hasn't enticed hitters to chase nearly as much as his slide piece has. His fastball has operated at 92-94 mph and topped out at 98, though its lack of life can make it vulnerable if he doesn't locate it well. 'Though Eyanson's low-80s changeup can miss bats with its fade and sink, he struggles to throw it for strikes. He's a good athlete with decent control but will nibble around the plate too much at times. He has a ceiling of a No. 3 starter if he can improve his fastball shape but also could wind up as a reliever who relies heavily on his breaking pitches.' More Red Sox coverage What they're saying nationally after Red Sox snag MLB Draft's 'top-ranked righty' A sweet ambush: Fred Lynn and Jim Rice's bond still gold 50 years after 1975 Red Sox pennant Red Sox draft UVA infielder with third pick at No. 75 overall Who's Kyson Witherspoon, Red Sox first round pick? 'I don't like being second' Red Sox double down on college pitching, draft another SEC arm with second pick (No. 33) Read the original article on MassLive.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Eli Willits, 17, tabbed first by Nats; two college pitchers follow in MLB draft
(Photo credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images) ATLANTA -- Fresh off an organizational switch-up, the Washington Nationals made a surprise selection with the first pick of the MLB Draft on Sunday, selecting 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits. A week after general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired amidst the franchise's sixth straight losing season, the team hopes Willits -- a Fort Cobb, Oklahoma native -- can spark a return to glory for the 2019 World Series champs. With most pundits predicting LSU pitcher Kade Anderson or high school shortstop Ethan Holliday to be the first choice, the Nationals went a different route with Willits. As a senior in 2025, Willits hit .516 with nine home runs, 33 runs, RBIs and 48 stolen bases. Originally a member of the 2026 class, Willits reclassified and was committed to the University of Oklahoma. After last year's draft didn't see a high school player selected until ninth (Konnor Griffin to the Pirates), the Nationals made Willits the youngest top overall pick in draft history at 17 years and seven months old. 'I'm just a player that's going to go out there and give everything I've got, just like everyone else,' Willits said from home after being selected. 'I feel like I have a good hit ability and am going to take that to the next level. I feel like my power is up and coming, but I needed to get into an organization like the Nationals, who can develop that and take me to the next level.' Willits was the Nationals' first top pick since 2010, when they drafted Bryce Harper. 'We couldn't be more excited,' Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo said. 'Eli is a special player. Great hitting tools. He makes contact, controls the strike zone. We love his swing. It's just a clean operation at the plate with developing power. Then he's just an elite shortstop, someone that stays at shortstop. ... You add on top of that the intangibles, his confidence, work ethic, just maturity that's off the charts. You put all of that together, it's rare to get someone that we think is the best hitter in the draft and the best fielder in the draft. We felt it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up.' The Los Angeles Angels followed by drafting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner, who struck out 111 batters in 77 1/3 innings as a junior for the Gauchos in 2025. Anderson dropped to third, where the Mariners tabbed the College World Series Most Outstanding Player from LSU. Anderson went 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts in 2025. The 6-foot-2 Madisonville, La., native missed his entire freshman season in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Anderson then compiled a 16-3 record in 37 outings (28 starts) over his two college seasons. He was a First-Team All-American and Baseball America's National Pitcher of the year this season. Holliday went fourth to the Colorado Rockies, 27 years after the franchise selected his father Matt in the seventh round in 1998. The elder Holliday hit 130 of his 316 career home runs with the Rockies from 2004-08 before returning to Denver for his final season in 2018. Ethan, younger brother of Jackson -- the first overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 -- was Baseball America's 2025 High School Player of the Year at Stillwater High School, where he posted a .611 batting average with 19 home runs and 64 runs batted in (RBIs) in 33 games. Left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle out of the University of Tennessee was picked fifth by the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by the third high school player to be selected in Seth Hernandez (Corona HS in Calif.), a right-handed pitcher. Oregon State star shortstop Aiva Arquette was picked by the Miami Marlins at seven, while Purvis High School (Miss.) JoJo Parker was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays at eight. The high school theme continued to round out the top 10, as the Cincinnati Reds tabbed Steele Hall, a shortstop from Hewitt-Trussville High School (Ala.). Hernandez's Corona High teammate Billy Carlson, a shortstop, was picked tenth by the Chicago White Sox.
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
17-year old Eli Willits tabbed first by Nats; two college pitchers follow in MLB draft
(Photo credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images) ATLANTA -- Fresh off an organizational switch-up, the Washington Nationals made a surprise selection with the first pick of the MLB Draft on Sunday, selecting 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits. A week after general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired amidst the franchise's sixth straight losing season, the team hopes Willits -- a Fort Cobb, Oklahoma native -- can spark a return to glory for the 2019 World Series champs. With most pundits predicting LSU pitcher Kade Anderson or high school shortstop Ethan Holliday to be the first choice, the Nationals went a different route with Willits. As a senior in 2025, Willits hit .516 with nine home runs, 33 runs, RBIs and 48 stolen bases. Originally a member of the 2026 class, Willits reclassified and was committed to the University of Oklahoma. After last year's draft didn't see a high school player selected until ninth (Konnor Griffin to the Pirates), the Nationals made Willits the youngest top overall pick in draft history at 17 years and seven months old. 'I'm just a player that's going to go out there and give everything I've got, just like everyone else,' Willits said from home after being selected. 'I feel like I have a good hit ability and am going to take that to the next level. I feel like my power is up and coming, but I needed to get into an organization like the Nationals, who can develop that and take me to the next level.' Willits was the Nationals' first top pick since 2010, when they drafted Bryce Harper. 'We couldn't be more excited,' Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo said. 'Eli is a special player. Great hitting tools. He makes contact, controls the strike zone. We love his swing. It's just a clean operation at the plate with developing power. Then he's just an elite shortstop, someone that stays at shortstop. ... You add on top of that the intangibles, his confidence, work ethic, just maturity that's off the charts. You put all of that together, it's rare to get someone that we think is the best hitter in the draft and the best fielder in the draft. We felt it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up.' The Los Angeles Angels followed by drafting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner, who struck out 111 batters in 77 1/3 innings as a junior for the Gauchos in 2025. Anderson dropped to third, where the Mariners tabbed the College World Series Most Outstanding Player from LSU. Anderson went 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts in 2025. The 6-foot-2 Madisonville, La., native missed his entire freshman season in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Anderson then compiled a 16-3 record in 37 outings (28 starts) over his two college seasons. He was a First-Team All-American and Baseball America's National Pitcher of the year this season. Holliday went fourth to the Colorado Rockies, 27 years after the franchise selected his father Matt in the seventh round in 1998. The elder Holliday hit 130 of his 316 career home runs with the Rockies from 2004-08 before returning to Denver for his final season in 2018. Ethan, younger brother of Jackson -- the first overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 -- was Baseball America's 2025 High School Player of the Year at Stillwater High School, where he posted a .611 batting average with 19 home runs and 64 runs batted in (RBIs) in 33 games. Left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle out of the University of Tennessee was picked fifth by the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by the third high school player to be selected in Seth Hernandez (Corona HS in Calif.), a right-handed pitcher. Oregon State star shortstop Aiva Arquette was picked by the Miami Marlins at seven, while Purvis High School (Miss.) JoJo Parker was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays at eight. The high school theme continued to round out the top 10, as the Cincinnati Reds tabbed Steele Hall, a shortstop from Hewitt-Trussville High School (Ala.). Hernandez's Corona High teammate Billy Carlson, a shortstop, was picked tenth by the Chicago White Sox.
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With rise of the Big Three, pitchers now get spotlight when it comes to Red Sox prospect pipeline
In the 2024 draft, the Red Sox made a concerted effort to add pitching. Second-rounder Payton Tolle — a 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound giant — became the team's highest selection since 2017, and the first of 13 arms who were drafted. One year later, members of that class have made huge leaps. Tolle, who was taken as the No. 50 overall player in last year's draft, now ranks among the top 50 prospects in the entire sport (Baseball America has him at No. 48). Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Tolle already featured a special fastball at TCU, even though the pitch averaged just 91.5 m.p.h., thanks to incredible extension and a low arm slot that flummoxes hitters given the carry on the pitch. Now, those unusual traits remain in place, but Tolle is sitting in the mid-90s and touching 99, dominating with his heater. Advertisement Tolle also has shown an ability to work with his sweeper, slider, and changeup (a developing pitch that is critical for his repertoire) in the strike zone, creating the potential for a mid-rotation starter. Between High A Greenville and Double A Portland, he has a 3.25 ERA with a 40 percent strikeout rate (third among minor league pitchers with at least 60 innings) and just a 7 percent walk rate. Advertisement First of already many Double-A strikeouts for Payton Tolle — Portland Sea Dogs (@PortlandSeaDogs) 'It's hard not to see a guy with the kind of swing-and-miss stuff as a lefthander, and the power that he has, as a top [prospect],' said Sox farm director Brian Abraham. Lefthander Brandon Clarke, a 2024 fifth-rounder, has also vaulted in the rankings thanks to the development of a wipeout sweeper to complement a fastball that touches triple digits. It remains unclear if he can stick as a starter or if he'll emerge as a late-innings power arm but, either way, he looks like an impact arm. Some rankings now have him in the sport's top 100. 🔥Brandon Clarke gets his 1st K for the Drive — Greenville Drive (@GreenvilleDrive) With Clarke and flame-throwing teenager Juan Valera (working back from elbow soreness) in High A, starting pitching prospects Tolle, Connelly Early, and David Sandlin in Double A, and Tyler Uberstine and Shane Drohan having returned from past health woes to impress at times in Triple A Worcester, the Sox system features more starting pitching depth than it has in years — and more is on the way. The top two selections by the Sox in the 2025 draft, The Sox are positioned to use pitchers as trade chips. Already, the team dealt Advertisement What about position players? With Campbell having graduated from prospect status and Anthony and Mayer close to doing so, and with Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth having been traded in the Garrett Crochet deal, the team's position player group has been thinned considerably — but still features standouts. Shortstop Franklin Arias, hitting .295/.348/.407 as a 19-year-old with Salem and Greenville, is widely viewed as the top positional prospect in the system. As one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League, his game stands out. Franklin Arias with a double to clear the bases!! 😤😤 — Greenville Drive (@GreenvilleDrive) He demonstrates great baseball instincts and smooth defensive actions that suggest an ability to stick at short despite a lack of speed. At the least, he looks like a hitter whose great bat-to-ball skills — his 10 percent strikeout rate is the lowest in the system for anyone above the Dominican Summer League — and all-fields line drive approach should translate to hitting for average in the big leagues. If he can improve his swing decisions and plate discipline — rather than striking out, he expands the zone and makes weak contact — he has a chance to add enough doubles and homers to be an above-average everyday player. He'll require considerable development to get there, and has struggled over the last six weeks (.174/.242/.284 in last 28 games), but still may get pushed to Double A this year based on his overall skill set. 'He's such a good, natural, pure hitter that it doesn't surprise me that he's having success and he is the type of hitter we like to move,' said Red Sox director of hitting Jason Ochart. 'He's such a quick learner and hard worker that anything you throw at him, he takes it and runs with it.' Advertisement Outfielder The Password ➡️ The Futures Game Jhostynxon Garcia has been named to the 2025 All-Star Futures Game roster! ⭐️ — Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) The same could be said of outfielder James Tibbs, acquired in the Rafael Devers trade — though notably, Tibbs is also getting time at first base in Portland. There have been other intriguing, if less than dazzling, performances. Infielder Mikey Romero has shown improved power in Portland, though his swing decisions have been inconsistent. Outfielder Justin Gonzales, after a slow start as an 18-year-old in Salem, has found his form, hitting .319/.390/.507 in his last 19 games. OH MY GOD JUSTIN GONZALES. The Boston Red Sox prospect with his second Single-A home run and it was DEMOLISHED. Apparently a crazy bat flip, too, which has the crowd upset that an 18-year-old monster just stuck a dagger in them. — Hunter Noll (@Hunter_Noll) And in the Dominican, 17-year-old shortstop Dorian Soto is hitting .343/.375/.500 with all kinds of possibility for his future. What about Kristian Campbell? In some ways, the most fascinating storyline in the Sox system has somehow been below the radar for the last month. Campbell was the Minor League Player of the Year in 2024, flying through the system with an overhauled offensive approach that resulted in a startling breakout. The Sox went all-in on Campbell's emergence, awarding him an everyday job on Opening Day and But after a great April, Campbell struggled in May and June, resulting in a Advertisement The early returns have been mixed. Campbell, who's played mostly first for the WooSox, is hitting .200/.373/.323 with a 34 percent strikeout rate. He's not chasing pitches but is whiffing on pitches in the zone. KRISTIAN CAMPBELL. 3 RUN SHOT TO TAKE THE LEAD 😤 — Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) Fairly or not, he became the standard-bearer for Red Sox player development and, obviously, the Sox have a lot riding on whether he can restore his promise. There's still plenty of work to be done. Alex Speier can be reached at
