As we edge closer to the 2026 MLB Draft, the buzz around the San Francisco Giants' potential picks is heating up. All eyes are on the Giants' No. 4 overall pick, and if the grapevine has it right, they're leaning towards selecting a shortstop. Roch Cholowsky is the hot name, but in the likely scenario that he's snapped up by then, Jacob Lombard seems to be the next best bet according to many mock drafts.
However, there’s a compelling case for the Giants to pivot and focus on a local talent who could become a fan favorite: Jackson Flora. This right-handed pitcher hails from UC Santa Barbara and has roots in Walnut Creek, growing up in the East Bay.
Flora recently made waves on the "Baseball Is Dead" podcast when he cheekily declared his allegiance to the Giants, much to the chagrin of former A's pitcher Dallas Braden. He quipped, "I was a Giants fan growing up.
My dad was a Giants fan…we watched them win three World Series…got to make fun of all my buddies that were A’s fans."
Flora brings more than just hometown charm; he's the top pitching prospect in this draft class. His stats from the last season are eye-popping: a flawless 12-0 record in 16 starts, a 1.06 ERA over 102 innings, and 133 strikeouts. With a high-velocity fastball and a repertoire of effective off-speed and breaking pitches, Flora is poised to make a swift journey through the minors, potentially joining the Giants’ rotation by 2028.
For a franchise like the Giants, who historically shy away from hefty contracts for starting pitchers, drafting a talent like Flora is a strategic move. It echoes their past approach with Kyle Harrison, another local product. However, Harrison's journey took an unexpected turn when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Rafael Devers, a decision that now raises eyebrows as Harrison shines with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Giants’ farm system is already rich with shortstop prospects, making another shortstop pick seem redundant unless it's someone of Cholowsky's caliber, who some tout as the draft's best player. But if Cholowsky is off the board, the Giants would be wise to snap up Flora, adding a promising arm to their roster.
The hope is that the Giants' draft strategy aligns with this perspective, prioritizing Flora if Cholowsky isn't available. Such a decision could fortify their pitching lineup, bringing a local hero into the fold and setting the stage for future successes.
In Other News...
Giants Just Moved On From Buddy Kennedy And It Says Plenty
Buddy Kennedys stop with the Giants was short and fairly ordinary, which is part of why the move was easy to read. The 27-year-old veteran infielder had been used around the diamond this season, and his limited run in San Francisco never gave the club much reason to keep him in the mix after a handful of quiet games. His major league track record has been that of a depth piece more than a fixture, and the Giants have now chosen to clear the spot.
What makes the move worth noting is the contrast between his big-league struggles and the bat he showed in Sacramento, where he put together a much better stretch at Triple-A. Kennedy has bounced through several organizations since Arizona drafted him in 2017, which makes this latest change feel more like another turn in an already winding career than a surprise. Still, the timing suggests the Giants were ready to pivot, even if his next opportunity now belongs to another club. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Rookie Drew Cavanaugh Delivers A Debut Fans Will Absolutely Love
Drew Cavanaughs first day in the majors came with a little more responsibility than most rookies can expect, and the Giants handed it to him right away. Called up after Daniel Susac landed on the injured list, the 2023 17th-round pick out of Florida Southern stepped behind the plate in his MLB debut and caught Trevor McDonald, a big leap for a player who was still climbing through the system not long ago.
Cavanaugh also checked off the first-hit box in the fifth inning, giving his debut the kind of finishing touch that tends to stick with a clubhouse and a fan base. After the game, he handed the authenticated ball to his mother, a simple gesture that fit the moment and made the whole night feel a little bigger than a standard roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Grind Out Another Tight Home Win To Take The Series
Robbie Ray gave the Giants exactly the kind of start they have been leaning on during this home stretch, working deep enough to keep the game in their hands and limiting Atlanta to one unearned run. San Francisco did just enough behind him, with Luis Arraez picking up a run scored and an RBI and the Giants turning two Braves errors in the sixth inning into the lead they would not give back in a 3-2 win.
The finish still had plenty of tension. Atlanta kept pushing late enough to force San Francisco to guard every pitch, but Caleb Kilian handled the ninth and closed it out as the Giants continued to stack one narrow home win after another. It was the kind of series-clinching result that can quietly matter in the bigger picture, especially for a club that keeps finding ways to win games that stay tight deep into the night. [Read more 🡒]