MOVING ON UP: Jackson Flora Promoted, Giants Prospects Voted Best

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Big news just in Jackson, Flora is making the jump to single A. What does that do to his timeline? It's all coming up on Lockdown Giants. You are locked on Giants. Your daily San Francisco Giants podcast part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. What's up y'all? Welcome to Lockdown Giants part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. My name is Alan Styles talking Giants baseball with you Monday through Friday and today is no different on today's show. We have some news, Jackson, Flora making the jump up to single A. When will we see him in action? Managers throughout minor league baseball voted on the best tools and some Giants players did pop up.

1:05We'll tell you who they are in a junior Marta profile. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandool. College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited. This season Fandool is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at Fandool.com. So it feels like Jackson, Flora was just pitching for UC Santa Barbara a couple of months ago because he was. And now he will be making the jump to single A out there in San Jose Bay area guys so familiar with the area. And this is from Susan Celestor Giants top pick Jackson, Flora to make first start at class a San Jose this week. The San Francisco Giants are all about youth right now and there's a little more. The team needs them starting pitching on cue top draft. Jackson, Flora is heading out to an affiliate, Flora, the fourth overall pick in July will join class a San Jose.

2:06The Chronicle has learned and he will make a start at Fresno later this week, likely Friday or Saturday to 21 year old right hander from Pleasanton and UC Santa Barbara has been in action at the Giants complex in Phoenix, including the bridge league on Sunday. He worked a scoreless inning with the strikeout and baseball America was enthusiastic. Quote, you try not to overreact to a short look, but I came away impressed with Flora's body control ease of operations and cohesiveness of his mix that was from Jason Panini. I think he has ways to attack both right handed and left handed hitters along with a build for logging innings to say high floor and a tough profile to poke holes in Flora who attended foot hill high school and rooted for the Giants struck out 133 and 102 innings at UC Santa Barbara this year and put up a 1.06 ERA. It's possible he'd be a consideration for San Francisco at some point next year college pitchers, especially first rounders, tend to be among those who move quickly through the organizations and he's more than likely to get an invite to big league camp.

3:19That's really exciting. And that's why I think the Giants did make this move. I know initially they said, hey, we're not drafting to help this current iteration of the team, but they were what they were and it's okay. Because he's not on the 40 man roster, Flora could continue to play during next year's expected labor stoppage. So that is what Susan slusser had to say about the news very exciting Jackson flora. He's a dog and I think another thing that's exciting about Jackson flora. I love guys that show emotion and you know lay it all out on the table and he's definitely a guy who does that real quick because Susan always throws other notes in her in her articles at the bottom. And this one I'm bringing it up because I know a lot of people are interested this on both Davidson. Raster's expanded by two on Tuesday, but the Giants unexpected to bring up out fielder, both Davidson despite his strong season at AAA Sacramento, at least initially.

4:21He best left handed as as Turner Hill, who was slated for the majority of left handed at bats in the field for now with Drew Gilbert, the left, the hitting center field option Davidson 24 must be placed on the 40 man roster in November at the latest or he would be eligible for the rule five draft. So there's a good chance to come up at some point in the final month if there is a need. Well, sounds like even if there's not a need, he's going to have to get called up. He's batting 290 at AAA Sacramento and as 26 homers combined between Sacramento and double a Richmond called up so far from AAA Sacramento, says our perdomo was selected catcher Zach Morgan was recalled Morgan got less than 24 hours with the Giants last month after Daniel Sussex injury, but didn't appear in a game Morgan 26 is from Stockton and played at Fresno state. So a couple of notes good stuff from Susan as always and yeah, we talked about the boat Davis and stuff. I just feel like the Giants are going to. Going to bring him up at some point and I think that's the one final thing to kind of round this season out and make Giants fans feel better about it.

5:25Back to flora. Yeah, I mean, scouts are just gushing about him the way he competes on the mound. Just another dog. I know Logan Webb has struggled as a blade, but we know what he brings to the table when the Giants are in those high levered situation. Unfortunately, they haven't been in a lot of those very often, but that's what I love about Jackson flora. He's competing. He's you know, the show boating thing and people go back and forth, not like our guy from the Met's jumping. And first of all, that guy can clearly dunk, but that guy jumping in the air after strikeouts. We're not talking about stuff like that. Not that I'm hating on that at all, but just, you know, there's going to be a little bit of bark. You know, if he strikes you out and just competing a lot of it talking to his own guys that's walking back to the dugout. That's what the Giants needs. And I think it fits perfectly with Tony Vitelo and the type of. The type of swagger or aura or whatever the kids are saying these days that Tony Vitelo typically is liked on his team and what his teams have typically had, at least when he was at Tennessee.

6:28So I think it's a match made in heaven, the Giants need pitching as Susan wrote college pitchers tend to fly up here. I think that's part of the reason you do see the, the later rounds continue to get cut from Major League baseball. They want guys to get up to the big leagues faster. They want more crazy fans like me that can you when you do that game and you guess I know with the, with the, with the portal with the transfer portal. It's not as fun to play those games when you just name a random player and you say what school he went to because it's really what's the last school he went to before he got drafted. But you could never really do that in baseball unless you were a hardcore. Hey, Buster Posey, Florida State guys like that. I think Major League baseball wants more of that. They want, you know, to trim the fat a little bit, you know, and I've always been of the mindset. Even though I didn't get drafted that you don't need as many rounds, right? I remember when I was playing there was 40, there was 50 rounds.

7:30I mean, the numbers kind of speak for themselves and a lot of these guys, they just end up turning into, you know, practice pieces for the big, for the big players, you know, for the big money players. I've, I've no plenty of players hitting 300 back when averages mattered can't get in a game where they eventually get cut because they're not worth any money. So as much as I know, you know, it's going to hurt some, some cities and towns when, you know, you cut down on the rounds and you cut down in the minors. I do think on the other side of it, you get talent that is going to go through the systems faster. Number one, because they have to because there are less levels. And number two, because you're kind of removing, I know the Mike Piazza stories and all that, but you're kind of removing, you know, some of the, like I said, the, the fat that's in the way, if you will. So I know, you know, not to get too deep into that, because I know there's a lot of feelings on all of that, but my initial thought is, I just want guys in the big leagues faster, you know, and the conversation of, oh, well, it's single a, double a, triple a, there's complex leagues, there's rookie ball, there's high a, there's a low a, I mean, there are a lot more levels than people think.

8:51So I think they're clearly negatives with removing rounds and there are negatives with removing minor league teams do not for one second get it twisted about that. I'm not a fan of obviously the negative stuff, but I am a fan of seeing guys faster and being able to play that silly game, we say Jackson floor, you see Santa Barbara, he was just there two years ago. Right versus I don't know that dude was drafted five years ago, I have no clue, right, he might have gotten his masters in between, but shout out Jackson floor excited to see what he does in San Jose and the idea of possibly seeing him next season is incredible, just incredible. Let's get to the other side managers minor league managers voted on the best M I L B tools with giants pop up in those conversations more locked on giants coming up. A big thank you to our friends at Amazon for this limited break this back to school season spend less on your kids with Amazon. We all know how crazy the back to school shopping experience can be starts with a few items on the list, then suddenly you're shopping for supplies, clothes, lunch gear, tech and about 10 other things you didn't see coming it adds up fast.

10:02You know your kid wants to look good and who can blame them when your kids spend days planning the perfect first day of school outfit because they want to make a great first impression. You end up putting almost as much thought into it as they do at least the first day photos are worth it so remember with Amazon's low back to school prices just spend less on your kids because every dollar you don't spend on them is a dollar you haven't spent on them shot back to school at Amazon and spend less on your kids. Next segment with you and we have some voting okay that has come out now this is according to baseball America but as voted on by managers in each league okay so this is the best M I L B tools 2026 so I'm going to get to obviously the giants players Pacific Coast league best change up goes to Carson Wiesen hunt I know I'm really tough on Carson Wiesen hunt. But the dude obviously has something right is just he's so close he is so close and he's just trying to get to the next level but he is so darn close and hopefully he can get to that next level California league most exciting player this is a fun one Johnny level so Johnny level I mean to me he is the guy when we talk about Joe Swargan's Alice and Luis Hernandez as well we should because they are stuck.

11:29He is the guy that has been playing really well and there's another guy that I'll bring up to but he is the guy that really gives the giants that added juice I think there are a lot of organizations that have two solid short stops and you're just flipping a coin thinking okay who's it going to be but to have three and I know some of these guys are starting to run into each other in the organization and having to play other positions. But we know that they can all play the position at least it seems like they can so far but to have somebody like Johnny level that is just another 19 another teenager in the mix with those guys those are just honestly safety valves if you will that other organizations don't have and that's why the giants are getting ranked and rated so high for their for their spots right now and for their farm system. So he starts the season in San Jose and in San Jose he was hitting 325 392 576 with the 968 OPS and he had 10 home runs all right he also stole 11 bases then he's playing so well he gets called up and everybody is wondering okay how is he going to look once he gets called up to high in Eugene now we had 191 a B's in San Jose right so more

12:55A or so less A B's in San Jose then in Eugene well Allen how is he doing in Eugene well he's hitting 305 365 487 with 852 OPS he has 13 stolen bases so more stolen bases he has eight home runs to the 10 he had in San Jose again you know you're looking at something like this hoping that there's not a huge drop off as you change to high in to higher competition and you move up the ranks and it hasn't hasn't happened so of course Johnny level I think when you see a distribution of stealing bases and hitting home runs and of course playing up the middle people love that I love that that is the definition when you start talking about the five tool player and I know arm strength and all that goes into it too but Johnny level if you are being voted most exciting that is something that we are going to do is going to applaud and clap our hands for every single time so that's Johnny level in the California League you have in the Northwest League best power to code a Jordan love to see that Dakota Jordan he recently got pulled up to double A and he's starting to find his way there maybe we see him in spring training next season would love to see these guys that we've talked about it feels like for a couple of years now get their opportunities

14:24and he also was named most exciting player in the Northwest League so that's great too so they voted him best power and most exciting player Dakota Jordan and to me you know just being able to watch him watch him kind of grow and evolve as a player so far so he was in high A to start and then he gets moved up to double A so Dakota Jordan so far he in high A he was hitting 290 okay and he had 18 home runs he stole 15 bags as well and 321 ABs obviously he recently got pulled up to double A so way less at bats 47 at bats he's hitting 298 though so the average is still there 377 468 with the 845 OPS only has one home run so far so far and 6th stolen bases so he's he's figuring it out right he is slowly but surely figuring it out and that's another guy that everyone is excited about Gavin Keelan makes his name on the list as well as the best defensive shortstop in the Northwest League great another guy you got to be excited about and in the Eastern League the giants are all over this list as well best change

15:51up says our Pardomo who we just saw had some good stuff when he got to the major so says our Pardomo best change up and best defensive out the other goes to another current big league or Jonah Cox Jonah Cox to me is becoming quite fascinating and you look at what he's done so far with the giants he's hitting 294 I don't know if I actually realize that he's hitting 294 I know some people don't care about some people don't care about batting average I do for somebody like Jonah Cox right like I think that batting average matters depending on the type of player you are so he's hitting 294 with 68 ABs 333 on base percentage 559 slugging 892 OPS with the 148 OPS plus got four home runs you know I don't know that a lot of people thought that we would get that out of Jonah Cox he's got 10 RBI's he's got eight stolen bases and obviously as the best defensive center

16:59fielder he brings a lot to the table there so it's exciting to watch somebody like him getting opportunity where I don't think anybody had that on the Bingo card and it feels like the giants maybe made the right decision and pulling them up and having him kind of skip the line a little bit let's not forget he was drafted by the A's in the 6th round in 2023 so yeah this is exactly what I just mentioned as far as Jackson floor is concerned he went to oral Roberts that was just a couple years ago and now he's in the big leagues so I think it remains to be seen you know his star power things like that he ain't a small game I think a lot of times when we see these kind of speedy guys you think they are smaller he's 6 to they got him on baseball reference 6 to 204 so there if he can get a little pop in that back you're looking at a guy that could be an again that five tool conversation we can steal bags we know he can play we know he can play defense if he can figure out the power thing just turn 25 what earlier this month August 4th so we just turn 25 I again I'm this is why you pull up guys early sometimes and see if they can sink or swim

18:16don't know which one Jonah Cox is going to do but he has not sank so far and that is the type of stuff that we like to see so great stuff from the giants a huge year for them as far as the development I mean pulling up guys early I know I joked about some of the guys they pulled up that you know aren't the top prospects but getting guys to the big leagues I think the reality is the giants would have said we'll be able to say we will come away with something at the end of the season not what we want because it's not a world series not even a playoff appearance not even a winning season not even 500 season but develop mentally we are going to leave with something as an organization we are going to leave 2026 with something and they have so far trades draft fix guys like that just developing the dudes they've already had so you got to love it speaking of that junior Marta made his debut over the weekend we got a player profile on him more locked on giant coming up college football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited and this season Fandall is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup back your favorite team build a

19:28same game parlay bet team props or make your picks on the biggest games of the weekend and throughout the season keep an eye on Fandall for even more ways to get rewarded with the full slate of college football every Saturday there are plenty of opportunities to follow the games and find new ways to get involved how about defending champs number six Indiana taking on north Texas for me it's having games on all day and finding different ways to stay engaged with the slate Fandall gives me options whether I'm watching my team following a big matchup or looking at a same game parlay visit Fandall.com to get started make baseball season more this year on Calcice America's number one prediction market platform and the official prediction market partner of the San Francisco Giants you can trade on every single game including San Francisco and Pittsburgh the Giants are trading at 41% to beat the pirates meaning a hundred dollar trade pays out about 244 dollars if they win on Calcice your trading against peers in a live market meaning there's no

20:35no house and as a probability changes you can buy in and out of your position download the Calcice app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade $10 K-A-L-S-H-I Calcice trade on anything 18 and up only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors Calcice products are not available in all jurisdictions prices values and available markets may differ from those mentioned for more information to Calcice.com slash regulatory last segment with you and we have a player profile on junior marty and he made his debut and in that debut he was solid four and two thirds innings pitched he gave up three hits one earned run two walks and three strikeouts but I think a lot of us liked what we saw from him he's a variety variety guy just turned 23 years old that was early august as well out of the Dominican Republic and this is from MLB trade rumors marty not to be confused with junior marty who pitched for the Giants in 2022 joined the organization in a trade last summer anybody know who the trade was for or who the Giants gave up shortly before the July 31st deadline the Giants sent out food

22:03Mike is Stremsky to the royals for marty the 23 year old now ranks as one of the Giants 30 best prospects at fan graphs he's number 20 MLB pipeline has met number 24 baseball America has him at number 27 despite marty's quote ugly delivery Brendan Galowski of fan graphs gives the 6 foot 6 235 pounder a chance to carve out a career as a major league starter he brings a high 90s fastball to the table and mixes it with a promising splitter slider combination marty began this season with high AU gene where he pitched to a 3 7 4 ERA with a 22.8% strikeout rate and a 10.6% walk rate in 43 and a third innings the results have been similar since the Giants bumped him up a level in the first week of June across 64 and 1 3rd frames with the rich man he owns a 3 9 2 ERA with improved strikeout and walk rates of 26.4% and 8.1% respectively marty may end up going right back to rich man after the game which already happened but the Giants will get at least one look at him and add him to their 40 man roster ahead of the off season he otherwise would have been eligible for the rule 5 draft during the winter so there's a good example of what they'll probably do with bow gave it's in is going to be annoying if he gets pulled up for one game I know it's different with pictures but some of these guys are just trying to protect it's just so fun

23:32how many of these guys started out high a you're literally in single a you end the season in the big leagues making your major league debut and I know they're kind of walk because you're going to go back down in a lot of cases but still still pretty cool to see them get those opportunities. So yeah I mean you look at what he's done so far and obviously he's got a lot to him with that high 90s fastball and honestly to me he just looks like a guy that has high upside he's all like I said only turned 23 a couple of weeks ago and people love a big frame like that even if the delivery isn't the prettiest in the world so you can see why the job is going to be a lot better. So I know that's why I think it's a great thing to do is to get the science moving off of Mike's Yostremsky who I know ended up getting hot and cold with fans towards the end not because of him he seems like a great dude for all intents and purposes don't know him personally but it seems like a great dude but just on the field I know it was a lot of hey you know how good is he he kind of represents the the era where the giants just weren't good enough right there which is funny because that era was stuck in 500 land to start off Tony

24:50they're not even at 500 so we'll see what happens with you and your marty and of course shout out Mike Yostremsky who is still doing his thing right still doing his thing a couple of teams later so good on him thank you for listening to Lockdown Giants thank you for watching Lockdown Giants be sure to follow me on social media at the underscore styles files styles with an eye for those of you on video we've seen to the first ever 24 seven national Lockdown podcast network YouTube channel on audio make sure you make your second listen lock on MLB we'll talk to you tomorrow until then peace thank you for making Lockdown your first listen every day for your second listen find the all-night locked on MLB game night every game every night until a world series champion is crowned get local analysis on a national scale find MLB game night on locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts