SF drafts the nephew of a Giants legend in the third round
SFGATE • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Francisco Giants selected pitcher Jackson Flora from UC Santa Barbara with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, viewed as the best pitcher in the class and a potential future ace for the team.
- Flora, a local Bay Area product and former Foothill High School standout, posted an impressive 1.06 ERA with a 12-0 record and a school-record 133 strikeouts in his final college season.
- The Giants also picked outfielder Peyton Bonds, nephew of Barry Bonds, in the third round with the 90th overall pick; Bonds batted .352 with 6 home runs at Rutgers University.
- Due to MLB draft rules, the Giants cannot pick higher than 10th next year regardless of their record, making the selection of Flora at No. 4 especially significant for their pitching-starved roster.
- Flora's diverse pitching arsenal and strong fastball could allow him to contribute quickly to the Giants, providing much-needed support behind All-Star Logan Webb.
