Giants Projected to Take UC Santa Barbara's Ace in 2026 MLB Draft

San Francisco holds the 4th overall pick and could land one of the top pitching prospects.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The San Francisco Giants, who have been an average team over the past few seasons, are projected to select UC Santa Barbara's ace, Jackson Flora, with the 4th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Flora is a 6'5", 205-pound right-handed pitcher who has been clocked at up to 100 mph on his fastball and has an impressive changeup and slider combination.

Why it matters

The Giants' recent stretch of mediocrity has limited their ability to draft top talent, but the 4th overall pick in 2026 gives them a chance to land a potential frontline starter who could help bolster their pitching staff for years to come.

The details

With the 4th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Giants are well-positioned to select one of the top prospects on the board. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter projects them to take Jackson Flora, the ace of the UC Santa Barbara pitching staff. The 6'5", 205-pound right-hander has been clocked at up to 100 mph on his fastball and has developed a terrific changeup and slider to complement his power stuff.

  • The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for June.
  • Jackson Flora spent the 2025 season as the second starter behind first-round pick Tyler Bremner at UC Santa Barbara.

The players

Jackson Flora

A 6'5", 205-pound right-handed pitcher who is the ace of the UC Santa Barbara pitching staff and a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.

San Francisco Giants

A Major League Baseball team that has been an average team over the past few seasons but holds the 4th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

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What they’re saying

“Flora spent the 2025 season pitching behind first-round pick Tyler Bremner in the Gauchos rotation. Now he is the unquestioned ace of the staff and a strong candidate to be the first arm off the board. The 6"5', 205-pound righty has been up to 100 mph with his fastball while showing a terrific changeup/slider pairing, and he had a 1.50 ERA and 28-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 24 innings.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

The Giants will have a chance to evaluate Flora and other top prospects in the lead-up to the 2026 MLB Draft in June.

The takeaway

The Giants' 4th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft gives them an opportunity to land a potential frontline starter in Jackson Flora, who could help bolster their pitching staff for years to come as they look to return to consistent contention.