​The Guardians have built what many believe is the league’s strongest reputation for pitching development, so whenever Cleveland acquires a pitcher with a high ceiling, opposing front offices often assume they’ll eventually see him in a major league uniform—likely with an outstanding ERA to match. In the case of Liam Peterson, the Guardians had their eye on him for several years. Now he enters their system as one of Cleveland’s top pitching prospects, slated to rise through the minors.
Peterson, a 6-foot-5 right-hander from the University of Florida, was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. MLB Pipeline had him ranked as the No. 20 prospect entering the draft, and he arrives with an upper-90s fastball. This marks the Guardians’ first use of their top draft choice on a pitcher since 2021, when they selected Gavin Williams, another large, athletic right-hander.
“We’ve known him for a long time, dating back to his high school days when he was a top prospect,” said Paul Gillespie, the Guardians’ senior vice president of scouting operations. “His mindset and his desire to improve fit really well with our organization. It starts with the physical traits—size, delivery, arm action—all of those things give him a solid foundation.” Peterson, who has experience as a two-way player, brings an athletic frame capable of handling heavy workloads as a pitcher. His fastball sits at 98-99 mph, and it’s paired with a curveball, slider, and changeup. He just turned 21, and given his college experience, he could move through the minor league ladder relatively quickly.
“We have the resources and the tools to support these players in a way that can help them reach their ceilings,” Gillespie explained. “The things he already does and brings to the table are hard to teach—with his physicality, arm speed, and stuff. We believe there’s a lot we can refine once he’s in our organization, focusing on the finer points of pitching to help him progress.”
In another part of the league, the Reds continued their own drafting trend, selecting a shortstop in the first round for the second consecutive year. Alabama’s Justin Lebron went 18th overall, following last year’s pick of high school shortstop Steele Hall. Lebron, 21, was ranked the ninth-best prospect in the draft by MLB Pipeline. “I had to struggle at times a lot, and I think that builds character,” Lebron said in a video shown on the draft stage in Philadelphia. “I think that builds character. I found a way.” Lebron, the Crimson Tide shortstop, had recently delivered a single in a game against Texas, according to the notes from the event.