Overview
- The Philadelphia Phillies used the No. 135 overall selection in the fourth round to take right-hander Jaxon Jelkin of Kentucky.
- Jelkin had a breakout 2026 season, going 8-3 with a 4.08 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 97 innings while featuring a mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball.
- This is the third time Jelkin has been drafted after selections by the Mets in 2023 (14th round) and the Pirates in 2024 (ninth round), and he previously declined to sign both times.
- If Jelkin signs he will enter the Phillies’ minor-league system, and if he returns to Kentucky he would remain the team’s top starter and be eligible for future drafts.
- Strong showings that helped raise his draft stock included complete-game wins over Tennessee and Florida and an SEC Tournament save against Arkansas, and the July 27 deadline now becomes the key next milestone.