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Phillies Draft Jaxon Jelkin After Losing Ranger Suarez to Red Sox
The Philadelphia Phillies used a compensatory fourth-round selection to draft University of Kentucky right-hander Jaxon Jelkin on July 11, 2026. The move followed the departure of left-hander Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox on a five-year, $130 million contract.
Jul 12, 8:00 AM·1m read2 sources
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The Philadelphia Phillies selected University of Kentucky right-hander Jaxon Jelkin with the 135th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on July 11. Forbes reported that the team received the compensatory selection after left-hander Ranger Suarez signed a five-year, $130 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Suarez declined the Phillies' one-year, $22 million qualifying offer by the November 18 deadline.
ESPN reported the Red Sox agreement during the offseason. The Phillies received the extra pick because Suarez signed with another club. Jelkin, 23, from Omaha, Nebraska, posted an 8-3 record with a 4.08 ERA and one save in the 2026 season.
243 and recorded seven quality starts. Forbes reported that he is the second University of Kentucky pitcher in the past 15 years to reach 100 strikeouts in a season. Jelkin missed the 2025 season due to injury and had previously been drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.
Ranger Suarez pitched for the Phillies against the Washington Nationals on August 24, 2025.
