2026 MLB Draft Profile: Jackson Flora

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami.

Overview

Position: RHP

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 205 pounds

School: UC Santa Barbara

Jackson Flora is a 6’5”, 205-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Flora is having an unbelievably great junior season for UC Santa Barbara to emerge as the top pitching prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class.

Flora was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California. On Perfect Game, Flora was the 428th-ranked prospect and the 140th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2023. He was also the 20th-ranked pitching prospect out of the Golden State. Flora went undrafted and signed with UC Santa Barbara.

In his freshman season, Flora made an immediate impact for the Gauchos and was one of their best pitchers. During the 2024 season, he made 23 appearances and four starts. He posted a 3-2 record with a 3.83 ERA, five saves, 1.45 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. Flora was named to the All-Big West Honorable Mention team.

During his sophomore season, Flora had a major breakout and became one of the top right-handed pitchers in the country. In thirteen appearances and eleven starts, he posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a .209 opponent batting average, one complete game shutout, and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. Flora was named to the All-Big West First Team.

So far this season, Flora has elevated his game again, emerging as the NCAA's best performing pitcher. In his junior season, Flora has made nine appearances and starts. He owns a 6-0 record with a 0.63 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, a .138 opponent batting average, 2.8 BB/9, 11.1 K/9, and 71 strikeouts in 57 ⅓ innings pitched.

On the mound, Flora possesses a three-pitch arsenal including his fastball, sweeper, and kick changeup. Flora’s fastball is one of the best in this draft class, with velocity that sits in the upper-90s and tops out in the triple digits. His fastball has a plus spin rate and excellent arm-side movement. His plus extension also makes his fastball get on batters quicker than the velocity suggests.

Flora’s sweeper is his most-used secondary pitch. His sweeper has good late movement, but he needs to be more consistent with shaping that pitch.

This is the first season Flora has been using his kick-change. While it’s brand new, he already has a solid feel for the pitch and uses it very well against left-handed hitters.

Strengths

• 70-grade fastball with plus velo and spin
• Strike-thrower
• Great extension
• Plus slider
• Promising kick-change
• Excellent athlete

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent with secondary pitches

Pro Comparison: Tyler Glasnow

Projection: Top 10 pick

Bottom Line

The 2026 MLB Draft class seems to be loaded with starting pitchers at the top, and Flora is currently the best prospect of them all. He has frontline starter potential.

On Baseball America, Flora is the third-ranked prospect and top-ranked pitching prospect in this draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Flora is the 14th-ranked draft prospect and second-ranked right-handed pitcher.

The Marlins have the 14th overall pick in the draft. It doesn’t seem likely that Flora will be on the board when Miami’s on the clock. However, he'd be an incredible addition to their farm system.

More 2026 MLB draft profiles

• OF AJ Gracia
• INF Jacob Lombard