MLB's No. 5 Draft prospect sets school's single-season K record

Jackson Flora’s Draft stock continues to rise.

Flora, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 Draft prospect, set UC Santa Barbara’s single-season strikeout record with his 129th punchout of the season on Saturday during NCAA Regional action.

The right-hander reached his milestone in the Gauchos’ dominant 15-1 win over Holy Cross, when Flora struck out nine batters in 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball. The school has produced current big leaguers such as Shane Bieber (Blue Jays) and Michael McGreevy (Cardinals), but Flora has usurped them both, including previous record holder, Rodney Boone (128, 2021).

Flora has a chance to make it two straight years that a Gauchos pitcher gets selected in the top five of the Draft -- right-hander Tyler Bremner (LAA No. 1/MLB No. 50) was selected second by the Angels in 2025. In Pipeline’s latest mock draft, Flora -- the top-ranked pitcher in this year's class -- is projected to go off the board at No. 3 to the Twins.