Jarred Kelenic is back.
The Seattle Mariners outfielder, once one of the top prospects in the game, struggled mightily his first two seasons. At only 23 it was too early to call him a bust, perhaps, but many fans had lost faith. The Mariners were reportedly shopping him at the trade deadline, but couldn’t work a deal.
Now, Kelenic looks like a new player in spring training. Sunday, he crushed a home run over the batter’s eye off Milwaukee Brewers All-Star reliever Devin Williams.
It was Kelenic’s fourth home run this spring to lead all players.
.@jarredkelenic just cleared the batter's eye 😳 pic.twitter.com/TjhjcCa5dR
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 5, 2023
Kelenic is now 7-for-17 this spring, a .412 average. Yes, it’s early, and yes, it’s only spring training, but those numbers are a far cry from what Kelenic posted his first two seasons. In 500 at-bats, he is hitting only .168, with a 66 OPS+ and 167 strikeouts. While he has 21 home runs, he has looked overmatched.
Not this spring.
Mariners fans and other baseball observers hope Kelenic has truly turned the corner and is ready to live up to the promise he showed in the minors.
Jarred Kelenic has made some subtle swing/stance changes that are seemingly helping him out.
2023 Kelenic (left) is more upright and has a smoother hand load and less pronounced leg kick. It looks like he’s much more comfortable and in a better position to hit. #Mariners pic.twitter.com/PPraRTWyOD
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) March 5, 2023
So far through spring training(and it’s still early), we’ve seen @jarredkelenic hit 4 HRs. One coming off one of the best relievers in the game. Another down 0-2, lefty on mound, goes oppo. Other two in a multi HR game. Can’t believe they wrote him off… #JarredDidntWriteBack
— Flippin’ Mariners (@FlippinMariners) March 6, 2023
I’m reluctantly buying Kelenic’s fixes tbh. That homer today was impressive.
— Smilodon (@Smilodon48) March 5, 2023
My body is ready for the Jarred Kelenic MVP season 🔥
— Cailean (@CaileanGrey) March 6, 2023
This is the year. Jarred Kelenic has improved so much under this new offense. He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse candidate for the MVP.
— Ethan (@TheEthanHammer) March 5, 2023
More impressive – this one was off of a top 5 reliever whose specialty is the changeup. This bodes well for a guy whose reputation is he can only hit fastballs. Im starting to believe.
— @fam_denn (@fam_Denn) March 6, 2023
I guess I’m going to have to dig the Kelenic rookies out of the trash can 😬
— Bostondirtdog21 (@bostondirtdog21) March 5, 2023
