Jackson Flora's Rise: Impact on Nats Draft

It's April 4th, welcome to MLB News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story.

The Washington National sit at the 11th pick in the 2026 MLB draft, set for July, and

they're probably scouting hard for that.

Game changer.

Jackson Flora, a right-handed starter from UC Santa Barbara, looked like a perfect fit

early on, ranked around 14th by MLB Pipeline.

But his hot streak this season has him climbing fast, maybe even into the top five.

This year as a sophomore, Flora posted a 3.60 ERA over 75 innings with 86 strikeouts.

This junior campaign, he's been lights out eight starts, just four earn runs for a 0.69

ERA, 65 strikeouts in 52 and a, third innings, and now at 33 and a third innings scoreless

streak after a complete game shutout.

Teams of top or buzzing, calling him the best rider in the class, possibly the top pitcher

overall.

For the Nats, this breakouts things, they'd love a guy like him at 11, but his rise means

he'll likely be off the board way before their turn.

He's got the rest of the college season to keep the momentum, and while top picks seem

locked, drafts can surprise with pre-draft slips.

This is the first to go round for Washington's new front office under Paul Taboni, so

every move counts.

Keep an eye on Flora as the gouchos push forward, it could shake up how the Nats build for

the future.