Although the Braves’ purchase of Jarred Kelenic went unnoticed for the whole offseason, it may end up being one of the better transactions struck this winter.
Jarred Kelenic was considered one of baseball’s best prospects only a few years ago. After being dealt by the Mets in exchange for All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, who was returned to New York, the former sixth overall choice in the 2018 MLB Draft made his debut for the Mariners as a twenty-one-year-old. That was the start of Kelenic’s problems.
In 2021, Kelenic hit just .181 with a .615 OPS in 93 games. The following season, those numbers were somehow even worse, hitting an abysmal .141 with a .534 OPS in 54 games. Through his first 147 big-league games, Kelenic had just a .168 batting average with 21 homers and a .598 OPS. However, 2023 was a bit of a breakout campaign for the 23-year-old.
With seven home runs in the first 25 games of the season, Kelenic was off to a scorching start to the season, hitting 328 with an OPS above 1.000. At last, his promise as a five-tool player, about whom everyone had been raving, was paying off. But then a typical run of misfortune occurred, bringing with it aggravation, and on July 19th he ended up breaking his foot after kicking a water cooler.
Jarred Kelenic would miss the following six weeks of action, and the Mariners shipped him to the Braves in what amounted to a money dump because they appeared to have had enough of his lackluster play and the theatrics that accompanied it.
To this point in his career, to say Kelenic has been a disappointment would be an understatement. However, he’s still just 24 years old and has shown flashes of what made him such a highly touted prospect. The Braves believe, in the right situation, Kelenic’s career has the potential to take off.
The pressure that existed in Seattle will be a thing of the past in Atlanta. He doesn’t have to be anything but himself when surrounded by a team full of All-Stars. Kelenic will also have the opportunity to work with Kevin Seitzer, one of the best-hitting coaches in the business. Seitzer has been instrumental in the development of the Braves youth, and he’s helped revive the careers of guys like Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, Travis d’Arnaud, and Orlando Arcia.
Beyond that, Alex Anthopoulos is going to give Kelenic perhaps what he needs the most, opportunity. The Braves general manager said at his first appearance at Spring Training the plan is for Kelenic to play every day in left field, allowing him to feel comfortable at the plate.
The Braves’ fourth outfielder isn’t on the roster, in my opinion still. With players like Eli White, Jordan Luplow, J.P. Martinez, and Forrest Wall, they face some serious competition. But Anthopoulos isn’t one to ignore any part of the lineup.
It’s the correct thing to give Jarred Kelenic the chance to get things straight at the plate. This goes beyond 2024. If this deal works out, he may be with the Braves for five seasons. Giving their investment a genuine shot at landing the first job for years to come is crucial. If things don’t work out, a backup plan ought to be set up. The Braves should try to acquire additional players at the very least; it doesn’t have to be a big one.
