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Giants select Jackson Flora with the fourth pick in the MLB Draft.

July 11, 2026

Giants Make Bold Draft Move

In an unexpected move, the Giants utilized their highest draft selection in nearly a decade to pick a promising college pitcher known for his triple-digit fastball. They chose Jackson Flora, the standout ace from UC Santa Barbara, with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Interestingly, Flora, who went to Foothill High School, was widely regarded as the top pitcher available, yet the Giants had closer connections with their two backup hitters.

This choice by general manager Buster Posey and the scouting director marks the second time in seven drafts that the Giants selected a pitcher with their top pick—recalling their earlier choice of Will Bednar in 2021.

Flora, standing tall at 6-foot-5 and weighing 200 pounds, had quite a solid record with the Gauchos, starting 16 games with an impressive 1.06 ERA while managing to strike out about 33.3 percent of the batters he faced.

Fans are buzzing about Flora’s selection, especially since he’s the highest-drafted pitcher since the Giants picked Jason Grilli fourth overall back in 1997. Reflecting on his journey, it’s heartwarming to note that he grew up as a Giants fan and attended the same high school as beloved player Brandon Crawford.

According to Peacock Draft Broadcast analyst Lance Brozowski, Flora is expected to offer “two to three times” the value of other pitchers, which is, well, a huge plus for the team. Initially, the Giants were slated to pick 15th after finishing with an 81-81 record last season. So, this fourth overall pick feels like a rare stroke of luck.

While excited about Flora, the team had its eyes on UCLA shortstop Rock Cholowski, with Crawford even meeting him to discuss a potential fit. It seemed like a long shot that he would fall to the fourth pick, and, predictably, the White Sox grabbed him first.

As the draft unfolded, the anticipated first three picks went mostly as expected—with Texas high school star Grady Emerson going second and Georgia Tech’s Van Lackey snagged third overall by the Twins. This left the Giants deliberating between outfielders Eric Booth Jr. and Drew Burress, shortstop Jacob Lombard, or, of course, their top-rated pitcher, Flora.

For now, the Giants still hold a formidable bonus pool of $17,350,600—the third largest across teams—and they’re not finished drafting. They also have picks remaining at Nos. 29, 55, and 90 in the first four rounds, with more rounds continuing through Sunday morning.