Jackson Flora, a standout pitcher for UC Santa Barbara Baseball, has been awarded the 2026 College Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game, marking a historic first for the program. With an impressive ERA of 1.06 and 12 wins this season, he set a new single-season strikeout record with 133 strikeouts. Flora joins an elite group of past Gaucho pitchers but distinguishes himself with a remarkable performance throughout the season, including a record 38 1/3 scoreless innings.

By the Numbers
  • ERA of 1.06, the best in UC Santa Barbara history since joining Division I.
  • Set a single-season strikeout record with 133 strikeouts.
State of Play
  • Flora led the Gauchos to a 40-20 record and a share of The Big West Regular Season Championship.
  • The team achieved its eighth-best ERA and second-most strikeouts in program history.
What's Next

Flora is widely expected to be the first pitcher selected in the upcoming MLB Draft, continuing a trend of Gauchos achieving first-round status.

Bottom Line

Flora's historic achievement not only highlights his individual excellence but also elevates the UC Santa Barbara baseball program on a national scale, setting the stage for potential future success in the MLB Draft.