Three Gators Named Academic All-District
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 2025 Academic All-District Baseball teams were unveiled by College Sports Communicators this week, highlighted by three Florida Gators in right-handed pitchers Liam Peterson and Caden McDonald, as well as outfielder Hayden Yost.
The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom separately across four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. To be eligible for Academic All-District and All-America, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while competing in at least 90 percent of the institution’s games or make at least 17 pitching appearances.
Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists are denoted with an asterisk and advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced July 1, 2025.
UF Player – Major (GPA)
RHP Caden McDonald – Biology (3.57 GPA)
RHP Liam Peterson* – Sport Management (3.68 GPA)
OF Hayden Yost* – Business Administration (3.76 GPA)
*Eligible for CSC Academic All-America
Majoring in biology, McDonald made 20 relief appearances for the Orange & Blue this past season and finished with a perfect 4-0 record, 5.14 ERA and .280 batting average against. The Tampa, Fla. native fanned 29 batters against 14 walks across 28.0 innings pitched. His best outing of the campaign came on March 19, when he chucked 4 2/3 shutout frames on two hits allowed, one walk and a career-high seven strikeouts to pick up the win over Florida A&M.
Shifting to Peterson, the sport management major served as ace of the staff from start to finish and led the Gators in victories (eight), games started (15) and strikeouts (96). Compiling 69 1/3 innings on the mound, the Palm Harbor, Fla. product posted a 4.28 ERA, .250 BAA, 1.43 WHIP and four quality starts while striking out 11 or more batters in three separate outings. Peterson’s stellar 12.5 strikeouts per nine ranked fifth in the SEC and 20th nationally.
Studying business administration at the University of Florida, Yost broke out as a true sophomore in 2025. Ending the season with a .259/.380/.392 slash line, the Tampa native saw action in 60 games featuring 55 starts in the UF outfield. Yost also totaled four homers, 13 doubles, 39 runs, 38 RBI and 32 walks to pair with 14 steals in 16 tries. In the final 15 games of the year alone, he tallied three homers while driving in 16 runs and slugged .462. Most impressively, Yost produced a 1.000 fielding percentage and two outfield assists over 137 defensive chances while playing primarily in center field.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom separately across four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. To be eligible for Academic All-District and All-America, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while competing in at least 90 percent of the institution’s games or make at least 17 pitching appearances.
Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists are denoted with an asterisk and advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced July 1, 2025.
UF Player – Major (GPA)
RHP Caden McDonald – Biology (3.57 GPA)
RHP Liam Peterson* – Sport Management (3.68 GPA)
OF Hayden Yost* – Business Administration (3.76 GPA)
*Eligible for CSC Academic All-America
Majoring in biology, McDonald made 20 relief appearances for the Orange & Blue this past season and finished with a perfect 4-0 record, 5.14 ERA and .280 batting average against. The Tampa, Fla. native fanned 29 batters against 14 walks across 28.0 innings pitched. His best outing of the campaign came on March 19, when he chucked 4 2/3 shutout frames on two hits allowed, one walk and a career-high seven strikeouts to pick up the win over Florida A&M.
Shifting to Peterson, the sport management major served as ace of the staff from start to finish and led the Gators in victories (eight), games started (15) and strikeouts (96). Compiling 69 1/3 innings on the mound, the Palm Harbor, Fla. product posted a 4.28 ERA, .250 BAA, 1.43 WHIP and four quality starts while striking out 11 or more batters in three separate outings. Peterson’s stellar 12.5 strikeouts per nine ranked fifth in the SEC and 20th nationally.
Studying business administration at the University of Florida, Yost broke out as a true sophomore in 2025. Ending the season with a .259/.380/.392 slash line, the Tampa native saw action in 60 games featuring 55 starts in the UF outfield. Yost also totaled four homers, 13 doubles, 39 runs, 38 RBI and 32 walks to pair with 14 steals in 16 tries. In the final 15 games of the year alone, he tallied three homers while driving in 16 runs and slugged .462. Most impressively, Yost produced a 1.000 fielding percentage and two outfield assists over 137 defensive chances while playing primarily in center field.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
editor's pick
latest video
Sports News To You
Subscribe to receive daily sports scores, hot takes, and breaking news!
