FRESNO – An orange sunset sky lit up Chukchansi Park on Friday night as Jackson Flora strode to the mound for the start of his professional career. Any butterflies the San Francisco Giants' fourth overall pick might've felt certainly showed on the radar gun. His first pitch for the Class A San Jose Giants clocked in at 96 mph, a strike.
Then his fastball ticked up to 97 mph as he threw four more high-90s heaters before striking out Fresno Grizzlies leadoff hitter Ashly Andujar looking at a 98 mph four-seamer painted on the strike zone's outside edge. The count full, Flora was just glad he didn't walk him.
Flora lifted his arms above his head and took a deep breath. Not just excitement to make his debut coursed through him, but so did the feeling of a dream come true.
The Pleasanton native who grew up a huge Giants fan as he learned his love of baseball was pitching with the orange and black "Giants" across his chest. His parents, Lisa and John, were in the stands watching, too.
Giants 2026 first-round pick Jackson Flora warms up before making his pro debut with the San Jose Giants in Fresno on Friday night. He allowed one hit, one walk and struck out two in one inning against the host Fresno Grizzlies. (Gary Kazanjian/For the S.F. Chronicle)
"I was a little extra juiced up," Flora said after his team's 8-5, 10-inning win. "You know, wearing a Giants uniform is pretty crazy. It still doesn't feel real. It's just baseball and I think sometimes I find myself kind of at night thinking, 'Dang, I'm with the Giants now.'"
The 21-year-old introduced his cutter and changeup alongside the fastball to the next batter, getting him to pop out. The next batter saw a bit of his mid-80s sweeper, which he grounded past the first baseman for a double – a ball that arguably should have been fielded by Jeremiah Jenkins. Flora walked the next batter, but wasn't rattled and bookended his inning by getting lefty Ronny Ugarte swinging through a hard 90 mph slider. The 6-foot-5 Flora immediately lifted his cap above his head and wiped his brow as the right-hander walked off the mound after 28 pitches.
His night was over, but his journey had just begun. He struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit over a scoreless frame.
Giants 2026 first-round pick Jackson Flora warms up as teammates watch before making his pro debut with the San Jose Giants at Chukchansi Park in Fresno on Friday. The San Jose Giants played the Fresno Grizzlies. (Gary Kazanjian/For the S.F. Chronicle)
Flora showed just a taste of what makes him one of baseball's most enticing young arms, a player who Baseball America ranks its 50th overall prospect.
His fastball looked explosive as advertised; he topped out at 98 mph, but a three-digit heater is in the tank. Along with the hard slider, Flora threw a sweeper (a softer slider) in the mid 80s and a changeup he also throws in the low-90s.
At the same time, his inexperience showed. Of his 28 pitches, 14 were for strikes.
"It wasn't perfect," Flora said. "But it was nice to get out there and compete and be in a game again."
Flora last pitched a scoreless inning at the team's Arizona complex.
Giants 2026 first-round pick Jackson Flora is shown warming up before making his pro debut with the San Jose Giants at Chukchansi Park in Fresno on Friday. The San Jose Giants played the Fresno Grizzlies. (Gary Kazanjian/For the S.F. Chronicle)
