SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Jackson Flora didn’t want to disappoint the crowd.
The Giants’ 2026 first-round Draft pick had punched out the first two batters he faced to start the top of the second inning of Single-A San Jose’s 3-1 win over the Stockton Ports on Thursday night, but he knew he had some extra incentive to strike out the side.
A’s prospect Edgar Montero had been designated that night’s Beer Batter, so if Flora struck him out to end the frame, fans would be granted half off beers around the stadium for the next 15 minutes.
The crowd at Excite Ballpark made the stakes known, chanting, “Beer! Beer! Beer!” throughout the at-bat.
Montero worked a full count, but he ultimately went down looking on an 83 mph slider from Flora, who strutted off the mound and tipped his cap to the crowd as he walked off the field.
“I felt like I settled into a groove a little bit, getting those first two strikeouts in that inning,” said Flora, the Giants’ No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline. “I wanted to please the people. They were rooting for me, so I had to execute."
“I think he knew it was the Beer Batter,” San Jose pitching coach Dan Runzler said. “Our funny thing is, you can get your butt kicked a little bit, but if you strike out the Beer Batter, the fans are going to love you. But I honestly think he just got in his element and he just did what he was supposed to do.”
It was certainly a crowd-pleasing performance from the 21-year-old Flora, who touched 100 mph while working two hitless innings in his postseason debut and second career start for Single-A San Jose.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander walked two and struck out four in the 32-pitch outing, paving the way for the defending champion Giants to clinch the North Division Series and secure their second consecutive trip to the best-of-three California League Championship Series, which begins on Sunday.
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“The ability to slow the game down was unbelievable,” San Jose manager Ydwin Villegas said. “It was a big game tonight, and he was acting like he was here since day one. That’s pretty impressive to see from a kid that was making his second outing so far.”
Flora and the rest of his San Jose teammates got to toast their win in the clubhouse after the game, though they celebrated by dousing each other in apple cider since most of the players -- including teenage shortstops Josuar Gonzalez (the Giants’ No. 1 prospect) and Luis Hernández (No. 2) -- have yet to reach legal drinking age.
“It was awesome, especially in this environment,” Flora said. “To come in here and help the team win in a playoff game and just be able to celebrate in the clubhouse like that really just motivates you even more to get up to the big leagues and help that team win. To be able to celebrate like that on the big stage is a lot of fun.”
Flora said he would be lined up to start Game 3 of the Cal League Championship Series if necessary, so he could end up making one more appearance for San Jose before the end of the season. Either way, he’s pleased with the progress he’s made on the mound since the Giants took him with the fourth overall pick of the 2026 Draft out of UC Santa Barbara.
The Pleasanton, Calif., native spent the first couple months of his pro career at the club’s Player Development Center at Papago Park in Arizona, giving him a chance to work on refining his full complement of pitches, particularly his new kick changeup.
“I think it’s just continuing to polish some of my pitches,” Flora said. “I think I’ve got to get a little used to this changeup as it keeps getting better and gets nastier. Like today, I was throwing a bunch off the plate just because I'm not used to it dropping that much. I think the better it gets, I’ve got to make adjustments to my sights and where I’m starting the ball, but it’s been good. I’m excited to keep it going.”
Flora said he plans to return to Santa Barbara this fall to continue working toward his communications degree and start preparing for his first full professional season with the Giants next year.
“I’ll be working out there,” Flora said. “Obviously, they have great facilities and great people to be around. There’s a great gym to work out at, so I’ll be there for most of the offseason. I’ll be back in pitchers’ camp in January in Arizona, just continuing to get bigger and stronger and stay healthy. I probably won’t take too much time off. I believe in just keeping the arm loose. I may not be off the mound for a while, but just playing catch and staying loose and keeping myself ready. I’m excited.”