The Shiner native became the highest-drafted Bearkat pitcher since 1984 after earning first-team All-Conference USA honors.
PHILADELPHIA — Sam Houston right-hander Ryan Peterson was selected by the Miami Marlins with the 71st overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
Miami selected Peterson during Competitive Balance Round B. He became the highest-drafted Sam Houston pitcher since Kevin Renz was selected 54th overall by the Detroit Tigers in 1984.
Peterson is the fourth Bearkat selected within the first four rounds of the MLB Draft since 2021.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior from Shiner entered the draft following a breakout season in which he earned first-team All-Conference USA honors. He finished the year with 105 strikeouts, a 3.38 ERA and a .236 opponent batting average.
Peterson became the sixth pitcher in Sam Houston history to record at least 100 strikeouts in a season. He was also the 10th Bearkat pitcher to reach 200 career strikeouts.
The 22-year-old was ranked among the top prospects available in the draft. MLB.com listed Peterson as its No. 86 draft prospect and described his curveball as one of the best in college baseball.
According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Peterson also features a fastball with a high spin rate that benefits from its movement, deception and command.
Peterson was named a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award. He also appeared on Baseball America’s midseason Pitcher of the Year watch list and was named a third-team midseason All-American by Perfect Game.
He reached double figures in strikeouts twice during the season. Peterson struck out 10 over seven innings against UIC on Feb. 20 before setting a career high with 11 strikeouts against Oklahoma State on Feb. 27.
One of Peterson’s best performances came March 27 at Don Sanders Stadium when he pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout in Sam Houston’s 1-0 victory over Western Kentucky.
Peterson threw 111 pitches, struck out six and walked four while recording all 27 outs. The performance marked the first complete-game shutout by a Bearkat pitcher since Heath Donica threw a one-hitter against Nevada on opening night in 2017.
Peterson was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week following the victory.
He joined the Sam Houston program in 2024 and earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team recognition during his first collegiate season. In his first college start against Rice, Peterson struck out seven and recorded an immaculate inning by retiring three consecutive batters on nine pitches.
Peterson developed into the Bearkats’ top starting pitcher during his three seasons in Huntsville. He led Sam Houston with 73 innings and 75 strikeouts in 2025 before producing his career-best numbers in 2026.
Before joining Sam Houston, Peterson played at Shiner High School. He was a three-time All-Area MVP and earned District 29-2A co-MVP honors during his senior season.
Peterson bats and throws right-handed. His selection gives him the opportunity to sign with Miami and begin his professional career in the Marlins’ minor league system.