The 2026 MLB Draft is underway, and the San Francisco Giants used the No. 4 pick to select right-hander Jackson Flora out of UC Santa Barbara.

Flora, 21, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound pitcher, becomes the third player out of UC Santa Barbara to be selected in the top five since 2015. According to MLB.com, Dillon Tate was selected No. 4 out of the university in 2015, and Tyler Bremner went No. 2 overall in the 2025 draft. Now, Flora follows suit.

Currently, the Giants do not have any pitchers in the top-100 MLB prospect list, so the selection of Flora can elicit excitement. By taking him, San Francisco is getting a player with a large frame and a high-velocity fastball. According to his scouting report, Flora averages a heater in the 96-97 mph range and can consistently reach triple digits.

Flora, a native of Pleasanton, Calif., played for the Gauchos from 2024-26. According to his college profile, Flora pitched in 23 games and logged 47 innings in a relief role during his freshman season in 2024. In that span, he logged a 3.83 ERA with a 3-2 record and five saves.

As a sophomore in 2025, Flora's role grew, and he earned several accolades. He made 13 appearances (11 starts) and provided 75 total innings of work, which was the second-most on the team. He also finished with a 3.60 ERA and 86 strikeouts while opposing batters only registered a .209 average against him.

Flora was one of 61 Division-I pitchers to throw a complete game, and he became the first player for UC Santa Barbara since 2011 to throw a one-hit complete game shutout. Other achievements included NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week and Big West Pitcher of the Week, both of which he earned following his complete game. Moreover, Flora ranked 27th in WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) in 2025.

During his final collegiate season, Flora was dominant. He made 16 starts for the Gauchos and finished with a 12-0 record. From March 6- April 10, Flora put together a streak of 38.1 consecutive innings without allowing a run. 

He also notched 133 strikeouts, which was a single-season record for the program. Flora’s efforts led to him being named the College Baseball Hall of Fame National Pitcher of the Year, and he was a finalist or semifinalist for other awards while also being selected for the Baseball America All-America First Team, among other accolades.

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