Kentucky adds Houston transfer Jaxon Jelkin
A ninth round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, Jelkin will sit out in 2025 but have two years of eligibility remaining.
On Friday, Jaxon Jelkin, a two-time MLB draft selection, announced on social media that he’s transferring to Kentucky. Jelkin pitched at the University of Houston in 2024, finishing with 46 strikeouts and a 3.41 ERA in 34.1 innings pitched. His season ended in late March due to an elbow injury. That injury will keep him out for the 2025 season.
A decision on whether Jelkin will enroll for the spring semester at Kentucky has not yet been determined, according to a source. Still, he’s expected to be ready for the 2026 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“I am honored to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Kentucky!” Jelkin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to Coach Mingione and the entire UK coaching staff for believing in me and offering me this incredible opportunity. The hard work, dedication, and trust you’ve shown in my abilities mean the world, and I can’t wait to contribute to the Wildcats’ tradition of excellence…I’m looking forward to representing the University of Kentucky both on and off the field. Let’s go Cats!”
Despite the injury, Jelkin was selected in the ninth round with the No. 263 pick by the New York Mets in the 2024 draft. An Omaha native, Jelkin began his career at Nebraska before transferring to South Mountain Community College. The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Jelkin in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but he chose to honor his commitment to the Cougars.
Baseball America ranked Jelkin as the No. 126 draft prospect during the 2024 cycle. His scouting report from the publication said the 6-5, 190-pounder, “sat in the 93-94 mph range with his fastball and ran the pitch up to 97 mph at peak velocity. His four-seam fastball has dead zone shape but scouts loved the life of his two-seam variant, which could be his ideal fastball shape at the next level. His slider is a low-to-mid-80s breaking ball that has plenty of sweeping action and occasional two-plane break that will get slurvy and blend into more of a curveball look at times but has above-average potential.”
Though it comes at an odd time on the calendar, Jelkin can be considered Kentucky’s first transfer portal commitment for the 2025 cycle. The Wildcats are likely to start at least two transfers in the weekend rotation, but all three spots could be occupied by players who were added last summer.