Hurston Waldrep is the kind of guy I am looking for. Two years at Southern Miss followed by a top of the rotation for a year. Then a first round pick! Hurston Waldrep - Baseball - Florida Gators
Liam Peterson had one appearance with the USA team with a solid performance. D1Bsb had comments on the USA pitchers, including Pete. Given the writer referred to BSproat as a closer, his analysis may be suspect, but here it is. Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida- Another highly touted prep as a senior by Prep Baseball, Peterson was rudely welcomed into the SEC to the tune of a 6.18 ERA during his freshman season in Gainesville. However, it’s not for a lack of stuff. An average athlete, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander can touch the upper-90s with his fastball. However, the pitch plays well below its velocity as it tends to be straight and as a result, hittable. His 83-84 mph breaking ball has plus action and swing/miss when he lands it in the zone and his upper-80s changeup is currently his third pitch. Peterson made one start on the Summer League Tour and struck out seven in four shutout innings while allowing just one hit and no walks. At this point in his development he reminds of former Gator closer Brandon Sproat who was selected in the 2nd round by the Mets in 2023.
D1 Bsb is running 2024 summaries and pre-fall analyses of SEC teams. The Gators fall report includes a matrix of positions and one of pitchers that compares new squads to 2024. Here are the summaries: Lineup Analysis: The surprising return of both Colby Shelton and Ty Evans transforms a solid lineup into a strong one. Add in returnees Cade Kurland and Luke Heyman, along with part-time starters Brody Donay, Hayden Yost, and Ashton Wilson, and you have the makings of a potent offense. Adding in impact transfers Bobby Boser, Blake Cyr, and Kyle Jones, the Gators have the depth to make a run back to the Men’s College World Series. Also, watch freshman Brandan Lawson, who may be too good to sit. Mound Analysis: Those freshmen grew up late last season and now return to form the nucleus of a talented staff. Peterson, McNeillie, Clemente, and Menendez should all be improved, along with Coppola, who joined the rotation at midseason. Barlow and Laurito provide quality options, as does yet another crop of strong freshmen candidates. Overall: The Gators’ cast of veterans didn’t hit for as high an average as expected last year. For the Gators to contend in the new-look SEC without Caglianone, these players need to elevate to produce en masse what Cags did individually. Jones, the A-Sun Freshman of the Year, has star potential if he can make the jump to look as effortless as his gliding style in center. The pitching staff has roles to figure out, even with some fireballing returnees. Peterson has ace potential. Can he become one of the tops in the conference?
Where do ya'll think Luke McNeillie fits in? Who will be our closer? And who will eat up innings as primary middle relief? Lots of questions to be answered. I hope a couple of our freshman will be able to step in right away.
I feel sure that he would like to have a chance at the starting rotation but the later part of last season he seemed to have the mentality it takes to work in the closer role IMHO.
More D1Bsb reporting on Gators on the Cape, Brewster: Colby Shelton, SS, Florida (2024) — Shelton arrived on the Cape late after making the decision to eschew professional opportunities to return to Florida for the 2025 season. After an up-and-down offensive campaign in Gainesville in the spring, Shelton never really got going for Brewster, batting .205 with one homer (which came in the last game of the season) in 44 at-bats. He had a particularly tough time in left-on-left matchups and sometimes looked as if he was looking for contact early in counts rather than working the count. Given his track record of power production, however, it’s likely his light-hitting ways on the Cape are little more than a hiccup in an otherwise strong college career. Much like during the spring, Shelton’s defense at shortstop was more than solid, and by now it appears that he’s just more comfortable there than at third base, his original position. He’s more instinctual at shortstop and has a better feel for playing the hops there. Brody Donay, C/1B/OF, Florida (2025) — Donay’s six home runs this summer were tied for second on the club with Cuvet, and as is the case with him, his round-trippers were often majestic and he consistently put up high-end exit velocities. He has double-plus raw power and can run the ball out of the ballpark from foul pole to foul pole. The key for Donay moving forward will be to have that power come with less swing and miss. With 41 strikeouts in 97 at-bats with the Whitecaps, that was an issue for him over the summer much like it was in the spring. Donay has tools that play defensively, including a bazooka of an arm that is an asset behind the plate and in right field, but it’s still unclear exactly where he will profile best as a professional.
If I had to guess what our weekend rotation would be I would guess it would be Peterson, Clemente and Coppola but maybe not in that order. I think that McNellie is too good for the midweek starter and will find an important role out of the pen.
That's as good a projection as any. May work out that way and based on where things stand right now that makes sense. Lots of roles to be earned/won on that pitching staff and lots of position battles upcoming as well.
