The Atlanta Braves appear ready to move on from Jarred Kelenic. On Monday, they optioned the former No. 6 overall pick from the 2018 draft to Triple-A Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, former Braves postseason standout Eddie Rosario was signed to a major-league deal and added to the active roster.
Given Kelenic’s struggles, the decision isn’t surprising, despite his pedigree as a former top prospect. The 25-year-old entered Monday batting just .167 with two solo homers, a .231 on-base percentage, and a disappointing -0.5 bWAR across 65 plate appearances. His strikeout rate of 35.4% also exceeded his career average of 30.6%.
Unless something unexpected happens, Kelenic’s tenure with the Braves — much like his earlier stint with the Seattle Mariners — seems like a failure. Atlanta took on over $20 million in contracts after the 2023 season partly to acquire Kelenic, who was coming off a 2.1 bWAR season in Seattle.
Kelenic’s journey to the Braves started when Seattle acquired him from the Mets in the December 2018 trade involving Edwin DÃaz. Although DÃaz has had ups and downs in New York, he’s still managed to save 123 games and post a 2.38 playoff ERA. Meanwhile, Kelenic never lived up to expectations in Seattle, hitting .204 with 32 homers, 109 RBIs, and a .656 OPS over three seasons. His -1.6 bWAR during his 2021 rookie year should have raised more red flags.
At least Seattle was able to shed Robinson Canó’s contract in the deal — Canó was suspended for PED use in 2021 and was out of MLB two years later.
As for Kelenic, his future is uncertain. He could still return to the majors this season if injuries strike, particularly before Ronald Acuña Jr. comes back. But it’s a far cry from what Braves fans expected just a few months ago — few could have imagined Alex Verdugo becoming a lineup staple while Kelenic struggled to stay afloat.
These are strange days indeed for the Braves.
