NORTH PORT, Fla. — Whether or not speaking to Jarred Kelenic at Braves Fest or throughout these early days of Spring Coaching, it’s been apparent he’s extraordinarily glad in his new setting.
“This group does numerous the little issues that different organizations won’t do,” Kelenic mentioned. “They actually concentrate on their craft and after they do drills, they offer 110 p.c. That’s what issues.”
Kelenic has been happy with every thing he has skilled since being traded to the Braves from the Mariners in December. He hit with Matt Olson in Atlanta a couple of weeks again and he has already shaped a bond with potential searching buddy Austin Riley. It hasn’t taken him lengthy to really feel like one of many guys.
“A number of the fellows have simply handled me like I’ve been right here for some time,” Kelenic mentioned. “That’s been tremendous encouraging as a result of we’re about to go to warfare right here in a couple of weeks. It’s been enjoyable.”
Discovering early consolation ought to show useful to Kelenic, who has been surrounded by strain because the Mets took him with the sixth total decide within the 2018 MLB Draft. Expectations grew when the Mariners used Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó to amass him on the finish of the 2018 season.
Kelenic ranked as MLB’s No. 4 prospect as lately as 2021, however the early go hasn’t been simple for the 24-year-old outfielder, who has constructed a .656 OPS by means of his first three massive league seasons (252 video games).
“He’s a really gifted younger man,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “Now it’s all about getting outcomes.”
A change of surroundings may actually profit Kelenic, who wasn’t all the time proud of Mariners administration. His argument that the staff delayed bringing him to the massive league stage for monetary causes was weakened after he debuted on Might 13, 2021. His stick with Seattle was quick. He was optioned to Triple-A after hitting .096 (8-for-83) with two homers and a .378 OPS over 23 video games.
Kelenic returned to the Majors after the All-Star break and confirmed indicators of encouragement, hitting .209 with 12 homers and a .693 OPS over the ultimate 70 video games. He spent a lot of 2022 on the Triple-A stage, however a couple of late September homers earned him a postseason roster spot. Encouragement grew as he hit .308 with seven homers and a .982 OPS by means of his first 26 video games with Seattle final yr.
“I simply wasn’t constant,” Kelenic mentioned. “I had numerous exterior ideas that have been type of messing with me. I had lots of people in my ear. I’ve numerous issues that I have been engaged on this offseason that may permit me to be somewhat bit extra constant, with simply how my physique strikes.”
Kelenic’s try and be extra athletic along with his stance and swing mechanics actually may assist cut back his swing-and-miss frequency. He was on tempo to hit 20-plus homers final yr, however he additionally had a 31.7% strikeout fee.
This actuality provides him another excuse to imagine he might have landed in the appropriate spot. As Ronald Acuña Jr. produced his historic 40-70 season final yr, he extremely diminished his strikeout fee from 23.6% to 11.4%. Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna additionally diminished their respective strikeout charges whereas tallying 40-plus homers final yr.
“Our lineup is simply disgusting,” Kelenic mentioned. “I’m simply going to concentrate on myself and no matter I can do to assist the staff win day-after-day. If now we have 9 guys within the lineup doing that, I feel we’re going to win quite a bit.”
Kelenic is a greater defender than his left discipline predecessor Eddie Rosario and he’s actually able to trumping the 21 homers and .755 OPS that Rosario produced final yr. However because the newcomer preps for his fourth massive league season, he’s hoping to start out listening to far much less about capabilities and potential.
“This can be a good place to return for a younger man as a result of now we have numerous younger profitable Main Leaguers in that room,” Snitker mentioned. “It’s a fantastic scenario for him to have success. The scenario is sweet. The ambiance is sweet. The work he’ll get is sweet. It’s simply as much as him to carry out.”
