Add The California Post on Google SAN FRANCISCO — Growing up, Jackson Flora was always in the seats, Buster Posey was usually behind the plate and a pitcher such as Ryan Vogelsong would be on the mound.
On Wednesday morning, Flora and Posey were both on the grass in front of the home dugout as the Giants’ president of baseball operations and onetime top draft pick introduced one of the five other highest selections in franchise history.
The 21-year-old from nearby Pleasanton was joined by his parents, grandfather and two siblings, including one who wore a jersey-style shirt with Posey’s name and No. 28 on the back.
“I was just telling them I’ve sat in just about every seat in this ballpark, but I’ve never been on the field before,” Flora said, shortly after introducing himself by name and shaking the hand of every individual media member. The first hand he shook was Posey’s.
“Crazy. I grew up watching him play. I’m a huge fan. It’s kind of still settling in a little bit, but it’s exciting. … Hopefully in a few years somebody’s sitting down here talking about me pitching in those games.”
Soon enough, the Giants hope that Flora will call the dugout home permanently. There’s not a whole lot on the horizon in terms of in-house pitching help, and manager Tony Vitello reiterated the organization’s belief that the college arm and first pitcher selected in this month’s draft (fourth overall) can move quickly.
The skipper was asked before the Giants wrapped up their series against the Brewers if he believed the UC Santa Barbara product could be a big-league contributor within a year or two.
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“I do,” Vitello said. “First thing’s first, he’s durable. He’s got a really good frame. The athleticism, I think, too, matches up with the guys that are on the field out here. And then the stuff is there.
“To take a guy at four, it means you don’t see a whole lot of changes that need to be made. So really it’s about him staying in a rhythm with his throwing program, coming in and seeing what he can do.”
It remains to be seen what’s in store for Flora the remainder of this season. He already threw 102 innings for the Gauchos while posting a 1.06 ERA in 16 starts this spring, and there’s no reason for the Giants to rush him given the big-league team’s place in the standings.
His first assignment after agreeing to a reported $7.9 million bonus sent him to the team’s facilities in Arizona, where he joined up with the high school arms they took with their next two picks, Carson Bolemon (No. 29 overall) and Kaden Waechter (No. 55 overall).
“We’ve only been at it for a couple weeks. Nobody’s throwing too much in a game or off the mound or anything. Those are awesome dudes and fun to hang out with. I’m excited to get to work and learn from them, and hopefully they can learn from me.”
Awaiting him in Arizona was another pinch-me moment for the Bay Area native.
The person he’s been primarily working with has been none other than Vogelsong, who now serves as a roving pitching instructor based out of Arizona. Flora named him as well as Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum as his inspiration once he moved from shortstop to the mound.
“He’s somebody who I grew up watching all of his starts,” Flora said. “Just his mindset, how he goes about pitching, how competitive he is — it’s been awesome to learn from him.”
There hasn’t been much time to get into specifics, but Flora said the focus so far in Arizona has been “getting bigger and stronger” as well as “polishing” his pitches. His fastball that can touch triple digits needs to get “more consistent,” and there’s still work to be done on the changeup that he added this year to an arsenal that also includes a sweeper, a cutter and a curveball.
“My fastball’s fun to throw,” he said. “And when it’s good, it’s really good.”
College hitters were no match for the heater, but it’ll now be put to the test against professional competition. Flora is eager to begin his journey, but he knows the pace at which it proceeds is out of his control. Posey was an advanced college hitter who only needed 172 minor league games under his belt, and now he’ll be the one who decides when Flora is ready.
“I try not to think about that stuff and put too much pressure on myself,” Flora said. “I kind of just like to focus on what’s in front of me and try to get better. I’m doing everything I can to make that decision easier for the people who have to make those decisions.”
