# Two UK baseball players selected in 2026 MLB Draft **Published:** 2026-07-11T18:28:21.000Z **Source:** [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/11/cats-in-the-2026-mlb-draft/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/two-uk-baseball-players-selected-in-2026-mlb-draft LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two University of Kentucky baseball players heard their names called during the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft on July 11, with [shortstop Tyler Bell becoming the highest draft pick in Nick Mingione's tenure as head coach](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/11/cats-in-the-2026-mlb-draft/). [Bell was selected 10th overall by the Colorado Rockies](https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/tyler-bell-drafted-no-10-overall-by-rockies), capping a remarkable college career that saw him develop into one of the nation's premier defensive shortstops and all-around players. The 21-year-old switch-hitter finished his two-year tenure with the Wildcats with a .314 batting average, 19 home runs and a .993 on-base-plus-slugging mark. [Bell becomes the second-highest drafted player in Kentucky baseball program history](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/tyler-bell-selected-by-colorado-rockies-with-no-10-overall-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft). The Frankfort, Illinois native turned down a second-round offer from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 to attend Kentucky, a decision that proved pivotal to his professional prospects. Despite undergoing shoulder surgery that is expected to delay his professional debut, Bell demonstrated the mental toughness scouts covet by playing through a torn labrum during the 2026 season. [He has until July 27 to decide whether to sign with the Rockies or return for his junior season](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/tyler-bell-selected-by-colorado-rockies-with-no-10-overall-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft). Later on Day 1, [the Philadelphia Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Jaxon Jelkin with the 135th pick in the fourth round](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/jaxon-jelkin-selected-by-phillies-with-no-135-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft). [Jelkin, 23, marked the third time he has been drafted](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/jaxon-jelkin-selected-by-phillies-with-no-135-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft), having previously been selected by the Mets in 2023 and the Pirates in 2024 before choosing to continue his collegiate career both times. [The ace emerged as Kentucky's top pitcher during the 2026 season, posting an 8-3 record with a 4.08 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 97 innings over 15 starts](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/jaxon-jelkin-selected-by-phillies-with-no-135-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft). [He features a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a sharp curveball](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/jaxon-jelkin-selected-by-phillies-with-no-135-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft). ## Sources - [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/11/cats-in-the-2026-mlb-draft/) - [MLB.com: Tyler Bell drafted by Colorado Rockies](https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/tyler-bell-drafted-no-10-overall-by-rockies) - [LEX18: Tyler Bell selected 10th overall](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/tyler-bell-selected-by-colorado-rockies-with-no-10-overall-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft) - [LEX18: Jaxon Jelkin selected by Philadelphia Phillies](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/jaxon-jelkin-selected-by-phillies-with-no-135-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from UK Athletics, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/11/cats-in-the-2026-mlb-draft/.