10/30/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Eleven
Written by Steve Potter
This Phillies off-season I continue the series “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes” with profiles presented in groupings by defensive positions for the players who were still part of the minor league player development program at season’s end. The notes will reflect statistics, my thoughts on each player and input from them and others as I have it. They are presented in order by position and then alphabet in groupings of five players per article. Here is pitchers - part eleven, highlighting the following :
Cal Higgins
Camron Hill
Andrew Hoffman
Elias Holbert
Jaxon Jelkin
LH Cal Higgins - 23 years old (24 on 6/4/27) - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/24/26 - University of Texas
2026 Stats : pitched in three games (3 IP) with Clearwater - 10.80 ERA, 4 K’s, 4 BB. Before that worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : is from Kearney, Nebraska and graduated from Kearney High School. He was part of a state championship team as a sophomore. He initially attended Iowa Western (Juco) before transferring to Western Kentucky for three seasons and earning his undergraduate degree. He had one season left in eligibility and enrolled at Texas pursuing a graduate certificate in communication and leadership. Cal is 6’4” 240 - he was pitching for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League where he appeared in five games before committing to sign with the Phillies. In his three games with the Threshers showed a sinking fastball in the 90-94 range, change up, cutter and slider.
2027 Outlook : likely starts the season with the Threshers
LH Camron Hill - 23 years old (24 on 6/15/27) - drafted in 8th round of the 2024 draft from Georgia Tech University
2026 Stats : began the season with Clearwater - appeared in seven games (7.1 IP) posting a 3.68 ERA with 11 K’s and 7 BB. Promoted to Jersey Shore on 4/30/26 - made 33 appearances - 42.2 IP, 4.43 ERA, 57 K’s, 20 BB. Overall for the season appeared in 40 games (50 IP), 4.32 ERA, 68 K’s, 27 BB, .189 BAA. Best month was July - 2.45 ERA in 7 games (11 IP).
2026 Notes : this was his first full year back from shoulder discomfort that saw him spend most of the 2025 season on the IL (made only 8 appearances). He’s noted as having a bit of a crossfire deceptive release and a four pitch mix. I’ve seen him pitch in person in side sessions and live BP - features a four seam fastball (90-95 mph, touches 96-97), high spin slider/curve, splitter and cutter - a compact delivery - three quarter slot. Converted this season to a full time reliever making one to two inning appearances. Tall frame at 6’6” - wiry strong. Great personality - always stopped and said hello whenever I saw him during his rehab.
2027 Outlook : should be in the mix to bump up to Reading in the same role he had this past season for Jersey Shore.
RH Andrew Hoffman - 26 years old (27 on 2/2/27) - claimed off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks 8/20/26 - was Atlanta Braves 2021 12th round draft pick - Illinois
2026 Stats : appeared in one regular season game and one playoff game with Clearwater - two scoreless innings total. Made three appearances with Lehigh Valley - two innings - six runs, five hits, four walks and three strikeouts. Prior to joining the Phillies had made 12 appearances with AAA level Reno in Arizona’s system (6.08 ERA in 13.1 IP) and pitched in 8 games with the Diamondbacks (7.71 ERA in 11.2 IP). Has pitched in 19 MLB games (‘25 & ‘26) with the Royals & Diamondbacks.
2026 Notes : big fella at 6’5” - noted for a four seam and two seam fastball that touches mid nineties along with a spike change up and slider with a deceptive delivery featuring a leg pump and pause before release. He’s pitched in the Atlanta, Kansas City, Arizona and now Philadelphia systems.
2027 Outlook : has a minor league option remaining - could be a AAA/MLB shuttle option if able to pitch well in spring camp.
RH Elias Holbert - 23 years old (24 on 12/7/26) - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/24/26 - VCU
2026 Stats : pitched in three games (3 IP) with Clearwater - 0.00 ERA, 3 K’s, 4 BB. Before that worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : is from Sherwood, Oregon where he graduated from Sherwood HS. The 6’3” 240 pound hurler was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He played two season at Everett Community College before transferring to Coastal Carolina where he redshirted - only appeared in two 2024 games there. In 2026 he transferred and played for Virginia Commonwealth University. He uses a three pitch mix - FB (92-94 mph), slider and changeup from a high three quarter arm slot.
2027 Outlook : likely begins the season with Clearwater.
RH Jaxon Jelkin - 23 years old (24 on 12/11/26) - signed as an undrafted free agent 7/23/26 - Kentucky
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game after signing, instead worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : Is from Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from Bellevue HS - earned all state honors - In 12 games as a senior he allowed just two extra base hits in 52.1 innings and struck out 80 with a 1.20 ERA. Originally attended the University of Nebraska - played six games there in 2022 - transferred to South Mountain CC in 2023 - made 14 starts, going 7-2 with a 3.81 ERA pitching 75.2 innings, striking out 98 (11.66 K/9). In 2024 he transferred to the University of Houston where he was their opening day starter. Red shirted at Kentucky in 2025 - named Second Team All-SEC in 2026 at Kentucky. Was selected in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and again in the 2024 draft by the New York Mets (9th round) but did not sign.
MLB - “He spent 2023 at South Mountain (Ariz.) CC before blowing out his elbow at Houston the following spring, requiring Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2025 at Kentucky. He turned down the Dodgers as a 14th-rounder in 2023 and the Mets as a ninth-rounder in '24. He has top two rounds stuff and earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a redshirt senior. Jelkin operates with three solid pitches with high spin rates, the best of which is a low-80s curveball with quality depth. His fastball has sat at 93-96 mph and reached 98 with power sink this spring, and it has touched 100. His upper-80s cutter features late break that keeps it off barrels. Jelkin also shows some aptitude for a mid-80s changeup with fade and sink. A lanky 6-foot-5, 195-pounder with room to add more strength, he slings his pitches from a low three-quarters slot that adds deception. While he provides consistent strikes, he does catch the heart of the plate too often and will need to upgrade his command.”
2027 Outlook : likely begins the season with Clearwater.
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