Gage Peterson, a junior right‑handed pitcher from Appalachian State, was selected by the Washington Nationals in the seventh round of the 2026 MLB Draft, marking the culmination of a breakout collegiate season that saw him dominate the Sun Belt Conference.
A breakout season in the Sun Belt
Peterson finished the year tied for second in the conference with 107 strikeouts, earned the 2026 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honor, and was named to the first team all‑league squad. He also ranked second in the league in wins (8), opponents’ batting average (.196), and hits allowed per nine innings (6.35).
A journey from junior college to the majors
Peterson began his college career at Walters State Community College, where he helped the team reach the 2025 Junior College World Series final and posted a strikeout rate exceeding 11 per nine innings in each of his two seasons. After transferring to Appalachian State, he quickly rose to prominence, landing on the National Pitcher of the Year watch list and being ranked among the top 250 draft prospects by MLB.com.
A historic moment for the Mountaineers
The seventh‑round selection makes Peterson the 50th player ever drafted from Appalachian State and the ninth under head coach Kermit Smith. His pick surpasses the previous high of Jack Hartman, who was chosen in the fourth round in 2020, underscoring the program’s growing impact on professional baseball.
What lies ahead
Scouts praise Peterson’s poise and repertoire, noting his seven‑scoreless‑inning outing against Coastal Carolina and a dominant performance versus Troy, a College World Series participant. As he prepares for his professional debut, the Nationals envision him as a potential frontline starter who could anchor their pitching rotation in the coming years.