Former Seattle Mariners' Top Prospect Struggling Mightily in New Home
Seattle Mariners fans were very disappointed to see the organization essentially give away outfielder Jarred Kelenic this offseason in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.
The fanbase was upset at the organization's cheap nature, which caused them to part ways with a player who has tantalizing talent and a very high upside.
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.
The former No. 6 pick (2018) in the MLB Draft, Kelenic made his debut in 2021, hitting .181 in 93 games. He played only 54 games at the big league level in 2022, hitting .141. And while he got out to a blistering start in 2023, he scuffled mostly after May and ended up hitting just .253 in 105 games. He let his frustration boil over at one point, breaking his foot while kicking the dugout and missing more than two months.
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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