Locked-In Liam – Florida’s Unexpected Top-10 Draft Pick

Written By John Crowley

One of the privileges of writing for PC is that I get to experience the generosity of different baseball programs across the country, allowing me into the press box to watch great ball from the best seat in the house. In particular, this week, the LSU Tigers media office gave PC the opportunity to see Florida and LSU battle it out at the end of the regular season before the SEC tournament. I drove over to BR, hopped in the media elevator at Alex Box, sidled my way into my press seat, and opened up the big glass window, getting as close as I could to the pre-June humid, Missisippi-cool May breeze of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At this time of year, the air straddles the line between a perfect spring and sticky heat – like finding a cold, refreshing sip beneath a head of hot foam on a latte. It’s a perfect night of baseball.

Better than the weather and good seats, I got the surprise pleasure of watching Florida’s Liam Peterson pitch – the contentious, potential first-rounder in the upcoming MLB draft. As of last week, Keith Law of The Athletic ranks Peterson to go in the top 10 (#8) of most draft boards. It’s unsurprising with Peterson’s 6-foot-5, 220 pound stature and 99 MPH fastball potential (average of 95 MPH), but also surprising when you look at some of his criticisms. He has elite, electric stuff but he can’t stay consistent. 

Notably, the ERA and wins and losses jump out as perhaps paltry or at best, average. Moreover, as consistency became a constant struggle, Aiden King usurped Peterson’s throne as Florida’s Friday starter. King has been nasty, holding a 2.50 ERA as well as opponents to a .199 average; conversely, it’s interesting that Peterson remains so high on MLB draft boards. It's likely that King is still a sophomore and has more time to develop, but it’s also about Peterson’s stuff. He holds a 12 K/9, a 34.4% strikeout rate. His unique, high-ride, cutting, 98 MPH fastball is the perfect contrast to a mid-80’s wipeout slider and a true, 12-6 mid-70’s curveball. His higher arm slot and giant frame make him a menace on the mound but also offer hope for durability in a league plagued by pitcher injury. His frame and his motion seem to effortlessly support his output. Consistency also becomes less of an issue when the good outings are like Peterson’s Saturday start against the #4-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. He went 7 innings with 1 ER, no walks, 4Ks on 97 pitches. 

Peterson_Quote

Liam Peterson, Baseball America

Fast-forward to a Friday evening in BR, and I’m watching firsthand as Liam Peterson mows down LSU Tigers. The Gators ended up 10-run-ruling the Tigers in the 7th, and Peterson’s line ended at 7 innings, 1 ER, 1 walk, and 11 Ks. It only took Peterson 88 pitches to do it. Say what you will about the Tigers’ season struggles recently, especially in SEC play, but this is a fearsome offense nonetheless, especially featuring Derek Curiel’s elite bat-to-ball skills at pitches in the zone. Peterson even struck out Curiel. 

What I saw in front of me was a pitcher that threw 98 MPH consistently with little effort. His motion looked relaxed and sustainable. I think there is a fine line between inconsistency and youth, and this is what scouts are seeing with Peterson’s potential: he isn’t inconsistent in a way of being a lucky fluke versus a beachball-chucking trainwreck. He is a malleable, young arm with elite potential that needs an MLB program to dial in some command pointers and point out to Peterson the cues that will help him self-regulate from the mound. I’m looking forward to where he goes in the draft, mainly to see which team’s pitching lab will get the fun of breaking in his raw potential.

John Crowley
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