Baseball America ranks four Gators as Top-100 draft prospects

Baseball America previously listed Florida Gator junior right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson as the No. 2 overall college player and the No. 1 pitcher in the 2026 MLB draft class, but on Monday, MLB announced that three of his teammates have joined him in the overall top 100 prospects rankings.

Joining Peterson as a Top 100 draft prospect are junior outfielder Kyle Jones (No. 43), junior transfer outfielder Jaden Bastian (No. 65), and junior transfer right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer (No. 85).

There’s no doubt that Peterson will likely be selected at the top of the draft, but it could be likely that these four young prospects join Sterlin Thompson (2022, Colorado Rockies) and Jake Clemente (2025, Miami Marlins) to be drafted after their junior campaigns.

Liam Peterson (No. 2)

Peterson, is a right-hander born and raised Florida native from Palm Harbor, FL. The Calvary Christian graduate made quite a name for himself in his first two seasons with the Gators.

In 2024, He was 3-6 with a 6.43 ERA through 18 appearances (16 starts). Over the course of 63 innings, he gave up 45 earned runs on 64 hits, walked 44, and struck out 77. Opposing hitters averaged just .257 against the 6’5” righty.

This past season, his second with the University of Florida, he was 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts). Over the course of 69 1/3 innings, he gave up just 33 earned runs on 67 hits, walked only 32, and struck out a very impressive 96. All of his numbers were a huge improvement from his freshman year as the righty showed he put in the work during the offseason and came into 2025 even stronger.

His 12.5 k/9 rating was the third-highest in a single season in Gator history and ranked 20th nationally among all SEC pitchers. He also led Florida in games started, wins, and strikeouts.

Peterson was named a 2024 SEC freshman of the week on May 20, 2024 SEC All-freshman team, earned 2024 SEC first-year academic honor roll, and was named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District team.

Over the course of his two years with Florida, he has accumulated 11-10 record with a 5.30 ERA and 173 strikeouts through 132 1/3 innings.

As the No. 2 player overall and No. 1 ranked pitcher, it is likely Peterson will hear his name called on draft night in 2026 at the conclusion of his junior campaign.

Kyle Jones (No. 43)

Jones is a 6’3” outfielder from Athens, Georgia. A graduate of North Oconee (Stetson), Jones has only played a partial season with the Gators. He played in just four games in 2025 before his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury.

Through 16 at-bats, he was 5-for-16 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. He had a .375 slugging percentage and a .353 on-base percentage.

Prior to coming to Florida as a sophomore, Jones played his freshman season at Stetson University in Deland. He started 62 games as a freshman, and hit .355/.459/.476 with five home runs, 32 RBIs, 53 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases.

The hope is that Jones will be able to come back healthy in time for the 2026 Florida season and his junior season.

Jaden Bastian (No. 65)

Bastian, a Winter Garden native and The First Academy Graduate, is a junior transfer coming to Florida from Jacksonville University. Prior to transferring, he spent two seasons with the Jacksonville University Dolphins.

Last year was a significantly better year for the 5’10” outfielder. He hit .302/.552/.433, with 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 60 runs scored. He walked 39 times and flashed his speed with a huge 36 stolen bases.

The Gators are getting a gift in the speedy Bastian. As the No. 65 prospect heading into the 2026 MLB draft, it is likely that teams will like his ability to put the bat on the ball, move around on the base pads, and his ability to score runs. He could hear his name called early-on in the draft if he continues to succeed in the SEC from the ASUN conference. But it’ll be a big change in pace between the two conferences so this year will be a test of how he adjusts to SEC pitching.

Russell Sandefer (No. 85)

Sandefer, 6’1”, 180lbs is another in-state transfer heading to Florida for his junior season. The Tampa, FL. native is transferring from in-state rival University of Central Florida, where he played one season after transferring from Saint Leo.

During his sophomore season as a Knight, Sandefer was 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA. Through 18 appearances (six as a starter), he threw 50 2/3 innings, giving up just 19 earned runs on 46 hits, walked 19 and struck out 49.

Sandefer will also put to the test now facing SEC-level hitters. If he succeeds as he did with UCF, he’s another name that could get called during the 2026 MLB draft.

While we’re still a ways away from baseball season, things look positive for the Gators based on players returning and transfers coming in through the transfer portal.

With four players tabbed in the top 100 draft prospects by Baseball America, a lot of eyes will be on the Gators as usual when they take the field in 2026.