King Named to National Pitcher of the Year Watch List
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The College Baseball Foundation unveiled its 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Watch List on Wednesday afternoon with Florida right-handed pitcher Aidan King headlining the announcement.
Representing 26 conferences, a total of 142 of the country’s top-collegiate hurlers were included on the watch list. King is the only Gator on the College Baseball Foundation’s first group of names.
“There is an old adage in baseball that pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters early in the season,” National Pitcher of the Year Award co-chair Brian Melakian said. “The number of early season dominant pitching performances this year proves that adage to be true.”
Still yet to allow an earned run this season, King has worked 17 1/3 innings through four starts. The sophomore boasts a 2-1 record, 0.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and .250 batting average against on top of 17 strikeouts against just two walks. He is responsible for both of Florida’s quality starts in 2026, logging six-inning victories against both UAB and Kennesaw State.
Across his last nine starts dating back to 2025, King is 6-1 with a 0.59 ERA and 46-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46.0 innings pitched.
The National Pitcher of the Week is one of four weekly awards presented by the College Baseball Foundation. The CBF also awards the Brooks Wallace Award, John Olerud Award and Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Week.
For more information on the National Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Southeastern Conference play gets underway for King and the Gators this weekend, as Florida hosts South Carolina at Condron Family ballpark for a three-game series from March 13-15. The series opener is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
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Representing 26 conferences, a total of 142 of the country’s top-collegiate hurlers were included on the watch list. King is the only Gator on the College Baseball Foundation’s first group of names.
“There is an old adage in baseball that pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters early in the season,” National Pitcher of the Year Award co-chair Brian Melakian said. “The number of early season dominant pitching performances this year proves that adage to be true.”
Still yet to allow an earned run this season, King has worked 17 1/3 innings through four starts. The sophomore boasts a 2-1 record, 0.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and .250 batting average against on top of 17 strikeouts against just two walks. He is responsible for both of Florida’s quality starts in 2026, logging six-inning victories against both UAB and Kennesaw State.
Across his last nine starts dating back to 2025, King is 6-1 with a 0.59 ERA and 46-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46.0 innings pitched.
The National Pitcher of the Week is one of four weekly awards presented by the College Baseball Foundation. The CBF also awards the Brooks Wallace Award, John Olerud Award and Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Week.
For more information on the National Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Southeastern Conference play gets underway for King and the Gators this weekend, as Florida hosts South Carolina at Condron Family ballpark for a three-game series from March 13-15. The series opener is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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