Jaxon Jelkin

School: Houston
Commit/Drafted: Dodgers ’23 (14)
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.

Jelkin started his college career at Nebraska in 2022 but after pitching just 11.2 innings he left for South Mountain (Ariz.) JC where he showed a low-90s fastball out of a lean and lanky frame. Jelkin was a day three sort of prospect at the time and the Dodgers drafted him in the 14th round. Instead of signing, he transferred to Houston for the 2024 season where he flashed great stuff and posted a 3.41 ERA over 34.1 innings and seven starts before missing the rest of the season with an elbow injury. His health status will cloud his draft stock but scouts raved about him as a potential top-three rounder when healthy. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound righthander 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. He also throws an upper-80s changeup that flashes impressive diving action. Jelkin has below-average command history but in his brief 2024 season he was much improved in that area and throws from a low three-quarters slot. He’ll need to add more strength and has real durability questions but exciting arm talent as well.