Florida Ace Liam Peterson Making Delivery Changes, Plus Texas, Coastal Observations & More

As fall practices continue across the country, more storylines are emerging across the college baseball landscape. Below, you can find Baseball Americaâ€s latest fall ball notes from Jacob Rudner.

Liam Peterson Makes Changes Ahead Of Draft Season

Two years into his college career, Liam Peterson still doesnâ€t consider himself accomplished. His freshman and sophomore seasons, he says, were “steps along the wayâ€â€”more progress reports than proof of concept.

As a freshman in 2024, Peterson showed premium stuff but erratic command, posting a 6.43 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 44 walks across 63 innings. His sophomore season brought refinement, and he pitched to a 4.28 ERA with 96 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 69.1 innings while cutting his home runs allowed total from 15 to nine.

Now, the Florida ace enters 2026 as the No. 1 college pitching prospect in the 2026 draft, a title he is both aware of and eager to live up to. 

Standing 6-foot-6, Peterson spent the offseason adding 8-10 pounds of muscle—particularly in his lower half—aiming for a more stable base and smoother delivery while allowing his high-velocity arsenal to play with less effort. Peterson posted 14.6% and 10.5% walk rates in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and feels he can achieve an even lower number thanks to his strength gains.

Peterson has also made tangible changes to his operation. His arm slot—previously a blend of over-the-top and very high three-quarters—is now fully vertical, giving his fastball a steeper plane and helping him sync his upper and lower halves. 

The new look was immediately apparent when he made his fall debut in Gainesville on Tuesday.

“Mechanically, I think I found something more repeatable,†Peterson said before his one-inning outing, during which his refined, more vertical arm slot was immediately visible.

He also tinkered with his pitch mix. 

After studying two seasons of data, Peterson introduced a two-seam fastball to complement his four-seamerâ€s elite ride. He didnâ€t throw the new offering Tuesday, as it’s only a month or so old, but he told Baseball America itâ€s a pitch he thinks heâ€ll go to later in the fall and during the upcoming season.

“We thought it would give a different look off my fastball,†Peterson said. “My fastball is kind of a little more of a ride-vert kind of thing, so this will give hitters something different to think about.â€

Texas Arms To Watch

A year after Dylan Volantis became the highest-placing freshman on Baseball Americaâ€s College All-America teams and claimed Freshman of the Year honors, Texas looks poised to keep its youth movement rolling.

Now in year two under coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns havenâ€t hesitated to trust their newest arms, and several freshmen have already delivered. Righthanders Sam Cozart, Michael Winter, Brody Walls and Brett Crossland, along with lefthander Jack McKernan, all impressed in their first collegiate fall, combining to allow no runs in scrimmages against Texas Tech and Lamar.

Schlossnagle called the group “awesome, with high-end stuff and strikes.” It’s a promising sign for a staff that continues to blend frontline velocity with depth and more experienced players with brand new ones.

A handful of players impressed at the plate, too. 

Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney has shown standout exit velocities and a disciplined offensive approach that could make him one of the most dangerous catchers in the nation in 2026. Returners Aiden Robbins and Ethan Mendoza have also drawn strong reviews this fall, giving Texas a mix of proven experience and immediate-impact freshmen as it pushes deeper into the Schlossnagle era.

Troy Looking For A Rebound

Few programs have carried their near-miss from 2025 harder than Troy, and coach Skylar Meade hasnâ€t hidden his frustration. After narrowly being left out of the NCAA tournament, Meade has been open about his obsession with getting the Trojans back to the postseason for the first time since 2023.

This fall, that pursuit has centered on fundamentals—tightening defense, cutting strikeouts and executing small ball when the moment demands it. Just over two weeks into fall camp, Meade says heâ€s seeing tangible progress.

Offensively, several players have made early statements:

• Jabe Boroff has launched two home runs and produced eight batted balls over 100 mph (topping at 115.1) in 24 at-bats.
• Gavin Schrader has three home runs traveling 418, 434 and 453 feet.
• Jimmy Janicki owns a .429 average, 3.6% strikeout rate and a home run, all while drawing praise for his receiving work behind the plate—“such a dude,†Meade said.
• Aaron Piasecki hasnâ€t swung and missed at a strike and has looked dependable defensively at shortstop and second.
• Blake Cavill has continued to hit, carrying a .375 average and on-base percentage north of .500.

On the mound, the velocity has been loud. 

Lefties Zach Crotchfelt and Ben Stubbs and righties Dylan Alonso and Dylan King have all touched 95 mph or better, while lefty Hayden Smith and righties Cooper Ellingworth, Tate Farquhar, Matteo Pare, Noah Thigpen, Blake Dean, Tommy Egan and freshman Brady Richardson have each reached 94 mph. 

Egan has piled up 14 strikeouts to one walk, Farquhar has generated a 44% whiff rate on his fastball and Crotchfelt has drawn swings and misses on 38% of his strikes in the zone.

Meade also highlighted Dillon Kuehl for his consistent at-bats, while Drew Nelson and King both showed improved stuff and command. Freshman Caden Reeves has made a strong early impression, and Josh Pyne and Steven Meier, though sidelined by injuries, are expected to be key contributors once healthy.

The Sun Belt has become a power conference in baseball with Coastal Carolina reaching the national championship series in 2025. Even so, Troy is confident it will be able to once again compete at the top of the conference in 2026.

Cameron Flukey To Go Slow This Fall

As Liam Peterson settles into his status as the No. 1 college pitching prospect for 2026, Cameron Flukey has already emerged as a legitimate challenger for that spot. In the early stages of the draft cycle, the Coastal Carolina righthander is viewed by many evaluators as every bit Peterson’s equal—if not the favorite—to be the first college arm off the board next July.

Flukey turned in a dominant 2025 season, posting a 3.19 ERA over 101.2 innings with 118 strikeouts to just 24 walks. He combined upper-tier velocity with advanced command and poise, giving him both the stuff and polish of a projected early first-rounder.

Coastal sees him as the unquestioned ace of its 2026 staff as it aims for back-to-back trips to Omaha for the first time in program history. But to ensure Flukey stays fresh for the long haul, the Chanticleers have chosen to manage his workload conservatively this fall. Heâ€ll make only light maintenance outings rather than full scrimmage appearances.

After surpassing 100 innings a season ago, itâ€s a calculated move that aligns with modern load management. And it’s one that should keep Coastalâ€s power righty primed for another big spring.

More Fall Ball Notes

• After batting .274/.433/.402 with four home runs, 11 doubles and 48 walks to 28 strikeouts in his first season at NC State last year, outfielder Ty Head has made plenty of noise this fall. His performance is attracting attention from the scouting community, with one evaluator telling Baseball America he views Head as “one of the top breakout candidates in the country†for 2026. Headâ€s plate discipline has long been a calling card, but his improved strength and consistent loud contact this fall suggest a more complete offensive profile is emerging—one that could anchor the Wolfpack lineup next spring.

• Florida outfielder Kyle Jones has been nearly cleared for full baseball activities after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery. Jones told Baseball America heâ€s now able to do everything but slide headfirst into bases—a small restriction after months of rehab. The former Stetson transfer played just four games for the Gators in 2025 before the injury cut his season short. Since then, heâ€s focused on building strength and using it to generate more loft in his swing. Jones remains a no-doubt plus defender in center field with top-of-scale speed and a hit-over-power offensive profile. Multiple evaluators told Baseball America they see Jones as an early-round talent if he can stay healthy and continue to grow physically. If so, it should give Florida another potential impact piece in a lineup already rich with athleticism.

• Stanford transfer Joey Volchko has brought his electric arsenal to Georgia, and early returns in Athens have turned heads. The righthander has touched 99 mph with his fastball this fall and continues to show the pitch shapes that have long intrigued scouts and pro evaluators, who still see untapped upside in his profile. Volchko enters the season with a 5.89 career ERA and 109 strikeouts to 72 walks across 113 collegiate innings—a resume that reflects both his immense potential and ongoing search for consistency. If he can refine his command and settle into a rhythm under Georgia coach Wes Johnson, Volchko has the talent to emerge as the Bulldogs†2026 ace and even insert himself into the conversation alongside the top college arms in next summerâ€s draft class.

• UC Santa Barbara kicked off intrasquad scrimmages Thursday afternoon as it begins preparations for what could be a rebound season in 2026. After a rare NCAA Tournament miss last spring, the Gauchos enter fall camp intent on returning to form under coach Andrew Checketts. Their rotation will be anchored by righthander Jackson Flora, who is one of the premier arms in the 2026 draft class. Floraâ€s combination of command, competitiveness and swing-and-miss stuff gives UCSB a true front-line presence as it looks to reassert itself among the West Coastâ€s elite programs.

• LSU is beginning to ramp up fall activity as it prepares for its second national title defense in three years. The Tigers are easing back key contributors like Casan Evans, whoâ€s set to resume throwing to hitters next week, while also getting an early look at several intriguing newcomers. Among them is lefthander Santiago Garcia, a transfer from Oregon whoâ€s already drawn praise for his competitiveness and flashy arsenal. With the roster still taking shape, more clarity on roles will come in the weeks ahead as LSU works toward its first fall scrimmage against outside competition in early November.

Source link