Jaxon Jelkin Selected by LA Dodgers in 2023 MLB Draft

PHOENIX ---

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Jelkin of the South Mountain Community College baseball team was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th round (pick No. 430) of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. A 6-5 hurler from Omaha, Jelkin finished 7-2 with a 3.81 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 75.2 innings of work in the Cougars' recently completed 2023 season. 

A transfer from the University of Nebraska, Jelkin posted wins over Salt Lake CC, Lamar CC, Yavapai College, Cochise College, Paradise Valley CC, Chandler-Gilbert CC, and Eastern Arizona in 2023. He tossed complete game wins over Eastern Arizona and Yavapai College and fanned a season-high 12 batters in a win over Lamar CC. 

Jelkin's selection marks the third-straight year that SMCC has had a player taken in the MLB Draft directly from the squad. In 2021, left-handed pitcher Ronan Kopp was selected by the Dodgers and in 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies selected catcher Gustavo Sosa.