After what was meant to be a fresh start, outfielder Jarred Kelenic—who was dealt from the Seattle Mariners to the Atlanta Braves this offseason—is having a lot of trouble.
The Seattle Mariners effectively sent away outfielder Jarred Kelenic to the Atlanta Braves in an offseason deal, which greatly disappointed the team’s supporters.
The organization’s cheapness infuriated the fan base, and they parted ways with a player whose potential is intriguing and whose upside is extremely high.
However, thus far, Kelenic is struggling mightily in his new organization.
Per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Jarred Kelenic struck out to end the fifth inning and was showed frustration when he put down his bat and helmet. He’s 0-for-2 this evening, dropping his spring average to .077.
The 24-year-old Kelenic was supposed to have a fresh start in Atlanta, but right now, things look strikingly similar to his early Mariners’ tenure.
After being selected as the sixth overall choice in the 2018 MLB Draft, Kelenic debuted in 2021, batting.181 in 93 games. In 2022, he made just 54 appearances in major league baseball while hitting.141. Moreover, despite having a scorching start to 2023, he struggled primarily after May and finished with a.253 batting average in 105 games. At one occasion, he lost it so badly that he broke his foot kicking the dugout and missed more than two months of play.
After the trade to Atlanta, the thought was that Kelenic would start in left field and would be surrounded by great players, which would make the situation less pressure-packed. However, his struggles have caused the Braves to pivot, as they signed veteran Adam Duvall this week.
It now seems as if Kelenic is headed for a platoon-role. He should still start against right-handers
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