Friday night baseball has become must-watch television for Gator fans. Florida ace Aidan King has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the country during his sophomore campaign, highlighted by a 1.73 ERA that ranks fifth nationally and first in the SEC.
Beyond the numbers, King’s energy, competitiveness, and bulldog mentality have made him one of the most compelling watches in college baseball.
King is aiming to become Florida’s fourth SEC Pitcher of the Year since the award was established in 2003. The last Gator to win it was Brady Singer in 2018.
King’s Case
On top of King’s conference-leading 1.73 ERA—which alone should put him firmly in the conversation—the Jacksonville, Florida, native also boasts the SEC’s best 0.87 WHIP and 5.85 H/9, underscoring his elite command and ability to limit hard contact.
If the season were to end today, King’s .180 batting average against would be the lowest at Florida since Nick Maronde in 2011 (.178) and tied for the second lowest in program history. His 5.85 H/9 would be Florida’s lowest since Maronde in 2011 (5.65), and his 1.73 ERA would be the program’s best mark since Michael Byrne posted a 1.67 ERA in 2017.
King’s seven wins and 67.2 innings pitched both rank fourth in the SEC, while his 2.0 BB/9 ranks fifth.
Dominance in SEC Play
The 6-foot-2 right-hander has been masterful all season, but he’s elevated his performance even further in SEC play against stronger competition. His 0.79 WHIP (2nd in the SEC) and .155 batting average against in conference play reflect that jump.
King’s 2.34 ERA against conference opponents ranks fourth in the SEC, and his five wins rank second.
One of King’s best traits is his ability to work deep into games. His 6.26 innings per start in SEC play rank first in the conference. For a team that has dealt with multiple bullpen injuries and resulting inconsistency in relief pitching, that durability has been instrumental to Florida’s success this season.
Through 12 starts this season, King has eight quality starts, eight outings of 6.0+ innings, six SEC quality starts, and four SEC starts of 7.0+ innings (four of his last five).
Finishing Strong
With two series left in the regular season, King has already thrown 67.2 innings and 1,099 pitches, yet he appears to be at his best right now, improving with each outing. Over his last five starts, King owns a 1.51 ERA across 35.2 innings, with all five outings lasting at least six frames and four reaching at least seven.
Two weekends ago against Texas A&M, King matched a career high with 8.0 innings pitched, and most recently he set a new career high in strikeouts with 10 against Oklahoma.
Dylan Volantis vs. Aidan King: Part Two
Texas LHP Dylan Volantis edged out Aidan King for 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year honors, while also earning National Pitcher of the Year honors from Baseball America and the NCBWA.
The two are battling it out again in 2026, this time for SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Let’s compare resumes.
Volantis: 7-0 record, 62.2 IP, 1.87 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 2.74 BB/9, 13.21 K/9, .189 BAA
King: 7-2 record, 67.2 IP, 1.73 ERA, .87 WHIP, 2.00 BB/9, 9.44 K/9, .180 BAA
On the season, King has the slightly lower ERA, WHIP, walks per nine, and batting average against. Volantis has the better strikeout numbers and a perfect 7–0 record, though that shouldn’t really factor into an individual award.
Here’s how they compare in SEC play.
Volantis: 5-0 record, 39.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 2.76 BB/9, 14.42 K/9, .200 BAA
King: 5-1 record, 50.1 IP, 2.32 ERA, .79 WHIP, 2.33 BB/9, 9.66 K/9, .153 BAA
Once again, the statistics are staggeringly close. Volantis has the slightly better conference ERA, while King counters with an almost unheard-of 0.79 WHIP and .153 batting average against in SEC play. For comparison, both marks are better than those posted by LSU’s Paul Skenes in 2023. Volantis has more strikeouts, while King has fewer walks per nine.
King separates himself with the length he provides in SEC outings. He has gone six-plus innings in six of eight conference starts, while Volantis has done so in four of seven. King has also gone at least seven innings in four starts, whereas Volantis has not pitched beyond six innings in SEC play.
Final Thoughts
King and Volantis are among the best pitchers in the country, and we’ll likely be comparing their resumes again next year. Stylistically, they’re very different pitchers, but both are elite at what they do. With two weeks still left in the season, whoever finishes stronger will likely take home SEC Pitcher of the Year honors.
But if the season ended today, Aidan King deserves the award. He owns the lower overall ERA and WHIP, along with exceptional WHIP and batting-average-against numbers in SEC play.
Volantis will win over the strikeout crowd, but King’s ability to work deep into games with elite command, efficiency, and durability can’t be overlooked.