UCSB Ace Jackson Flora Drafted Fourth by San Francisco Giants in MLB Draft
Noozhawk
July 11, 2026
Santa Barbara’s own Jackson Flora just made history. The UCSB right-handed ace was selected fourth overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday — the first pitcher taken off the board. For a kid who honed his craft on local diamonds and dominated for the Gauchos, this is a huge moment for our entire Central Coast baseball community.
Flora’s rise from Santa Barbara youth leagues to the top of the draft is a story of grit and hometown pride. As reported by Noozhawk, his selection marks the highest a UCSB pitcher has ever been drafted. Whether you caught him at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium or just follow the Gauchos from afar, this is the kind of achievement that puts our region on the baseball map. Let’s all give a big 805 cheer as Flora heads to the Bay to start his pro career.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Noozhawk.
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NoozhawkPublished
July 11, 2026
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