Florida Gators right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week by the league office on Monday afternoon. Peterson received the Freshman of the Week nod alongside Arkansas’ Colin Fisher.
The Palm Harbor, Fla. native made two starts for the Gators, going 1-0 across seven scoreless innings while striking out 13 batters against four walks. He allowed just three hits, posting a 1.00 WHIP and .125 batting average against. Florida went 2-0 in Peterson’s two starts en route to a 5-0 week.
After having his opening weekend start scratched due to weather, Peterson made his collegiate debut at North Florida on Feb. 20th, where the 6’5 right hander fired three scoreless frames on one hit and one walk. Peterson struck out seven batters en route to earning his first victory in a controlled start.
“The goal was to get him for two innings and keep his pitch count under 40 because he’s going to come back on Saturday, but he went three innings and gave up the one hit, the infield hit, and struck out seven with one walk on 37 pitches,” Kevin O’ Sullivan said on Peterson’s first collegiate start. “I thought his stuff was electric and pitched to both sides of the plate with his fastball. It was everything we had hoped for.”
Four days later, Peterson was back on the mound for his first weekend start of the 2024 campaign against Columbia on Feb. 24th. Peterson delivered the swing and miss stuff again, fanning six over four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and three talks in the contest.
“I think you’re just amped up. His first start in his career at home, over 8,000 people. It’s expected,” O’Sullivan said on Peterson’s weekend start vs Columbia. “The bottom line is that he made some pitches and the stuff was really good again. Really easy decision to take him out after four after that emotional fourth inning.”
Prior to coming to Florida, Peterson held status as the No. 34 prep player nationally per Perfect Game. From 2022-23 at Calvary Christian, he delivered a 10-2 record, 1.28 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings – good for a 16.6 K/9.
“Liam Peterson came in with a lot of hype, so to speak,” O’Sullivan said during the preseason. “He’s certainly lived up to the bill, obviously it’s a little different now that the season has started. Hopefully he can continue to do what he’s been doing in intrasquad games.”