If you do not know the name Jarred Kelenic, you will on Thursday when he starts his journey in the show. Kelenic, the number four prospect according to Major League Baseball, is scheduled to join the Mariners on Thursday when they play the Cleveland Indians.
The Mariners have not confirmed the decision to bring Kelenic to the big league, but a credible source in Seattle released the information to MLB.com. Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the news.
The Jarred Kelenic Era Has Arrived
Kelenic will receive the call on Thursday from Seattle’s Triple-A club, the Tacoma Rainiers. The Minor League season just began, so Kelenic has not had much game experience in Tacoma. He has played in five games, but Kelenic dominated in all 45 innings of play.
The 21-year-old phenom had gone 9-for-22 with two bombs since last Opening Day. In addition to the power, Kelenic has delivered with runners in scoring position.
The right fielder has driven in five runners and scored six runs. Even though Kelenic’s Triple-A sample size is not extensive, there were reports that he excelled at the alternate site over the past month.
Additionally, Kelenic raked in Spring Training with the Mariners slashing .300/.440/.700 with two home runs in ten games. Since Passan first reported this news, Seattle fans have been anxious to see how the slugger does in his debut.
Backstory on Jarred Kelenic
Kelenic’s arrival should also help boost enthusiasm about the club, which is already high with the Mariners in second place and 2.5 games back.
The outfielder has been on fans’ radar since 2019 when he won the Mariners Minor League Player of the Year Award. Seattle is now in year three of their rebuild, and Kelenic is the next step in the direction toward a championship contending franchise.
Kelenic may not make an immediate impact, but his arrival is a glimmer of hope for fans that the team will be playing October baseball in the future.
Kelenic was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Mets. However, the Mariners wanted the outfielder, and analysts projected that he would end up with Seattle.
The Mariners found a way to acquire the outfielder by trading for him in 2018 when they gave Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to New York. This win later mentality has seemed to go in Seattle’s favor thus far, but the honest answer will begin to develop on Thursday.
Where Does Jarred Kelenic Fit?
It’s unknown where Jarred Kelenic will be penciled in with the Mariners, but people have started to make some presumptions since the news broke. He will likely replace Taylor Trammell in left field.
Trammell had a fantastic spring, which ultimately forced Seattle to put him on the Opening Day roster. Trammell, who is 23 years of age, has a bright future in the big leagues, but it will probably not be with Seattle.
In 83 at-bats, Trammell is batting well below the Mendoza Line with a .157 average. Between Kyle Lewis, Kelenic, and eventually Julio Rodriguez, baseball’s fifth-ranked prospect, the outfield is in great shape.
Most likely, Kelenic will start in left field on Thursday, sending Trammell to the bench. The fourth-ranked prospect has spent most of his developmental time in centerfield, but he is equipped to play all three positions in the outfield.
If Kelenic can come in and hit, it will be another weapon that the Mariners can place in the middle of the lineup. Seattle has one of the worst lineups in the game, but they are still in the mix for the division.
Kelenic could be the savior to Seattle’s postseason dreams. His journey begins on Thursday night.
Tanner Kern is a writer for Knup Sports and the Sports 2.0 Network. He is the host of Between the Lines, the official show of Baseball Spotlight, and the main contributor for the website. Connect with Tanner on IG @tannerkern and Twitter @tannerkern_.
