The Nationals are projected to take right handed pitcher Liam Peterson, who was named a preseason All-American, in Bleacher Report's 2026 mock draft

Peterson has logged 132.1 innings during his first two seasons on campus at Florida, and while his 5.30 ERA and 1.56 WHIP do not jump off the page, his 173 strikeouts and 28.5 percent strikeout rate speak volumes. If the results start to better match the pure stuff this spring, he could be the first arm off the board and a top-five selection, but potential alone makes him a clear first-round prospect.