Florida baseball is facing a dilemma.
The Gators’ starting rotation hadn’t lived up to the preseason hype until Aidan King threw seven scoreless innings in UF’s 2-0 win over Ole Miss on Friday, April 4.
Florida has a nation-leading seven shutouts in which King started four of the games. King’s recent seven innings are the longest outing by any Gator pitcher this season. The sophomore added eight strikeouts and scattered only four hits.
By comparison, four of Florida’s losses occurred during Friday starter Liam Peterson’s outings on the mound. According to Gator head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, it has caused the staff to face a bittersweet decision.
“It’s something that we’ve thought about,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s a very hard decision to make because at some point, if we are going to get to the World Series, Liam is a big part of this thing. The guy is a first-round pick. He knows that he’s got to get extended during games. At some point, if he doesn’t, then obviously we have some tough decisions to make. It’s a really touchy, a really tough decision to make. If, in fact, we have to do that, then we will. It’s something we’ve discussed.”
Against Ole Miss, Peterson failed to finish the fourth inning as he allowed three runs off six hits while walking three batters and striking out seven. This season, Peterson has only completed six innings once, which was in a win against last-place South Carolina.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the country,” O’Sullivan said. “Going into the preseason, he was unbelievable. During the fall, he was great. We just have to get it going. I truly believe he will.”
Florida did alter its weekend rotation last week after swapping Russell Sander for Cooper Walls in the Sunday role. That decision paid off last weekend as Sandefer delivered 5.2 innings and scattered six hits and three runs to cap off the Gators’ sweep over Arkansas.
On the season, King has a 1.62 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 4-2 win-loss record, 41 strikeouts, nine walks and seven earned runs in 39 innings.
“To us, it doesn’t matter,” said King on the discussion of changing the rotation. “It’s a one-two punch. Everyone knows he’s going to be a top guy in the draft this year.”
Despite the numbers, King also believed that Peterson should remain Florida’s Friday starting pitcher.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that he stays the Friday guy,” King said. “To me, it really doesn’t matter to me. He deserves it. That conversation doesn’t get brought up to us at all. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s fine. I just keep doing what I’m doing and make sure that if he has a good start or a bad start, that I’m right there behind him continuing to do what I do.”
Liam Peterson has recorded a 4.03 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 1-2 win-loss record, 62 strikeouts, 28 hits and 25 walks in 38 innings.
“His preparation between his starts has been outstanding,” O’Sullivan said. “He knows the lineup and is doing his homework. His pens have been outstanding. He just has to perform better. All of our starters have had starts where they didn’t give us five innings. We can’t just put this all on Liam. Liam knows. He’s bright. Also, as a coach, you have to stay with your players too.”
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball confronts pitching rotation dilemma
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
