The New York Yankees are taking a flyer on Jarred Kelenic, signing our former top prospect to a Minor League contract that sends him straight to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It’s a fresh start for a guy who was once the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade and carried a ton of expectations right here in Seattle.
From #6 Pick to the Emerald City, Then Everywhere Else
Man, it feels like yesterday Kelenic was the future, right? He was the New York Mets’ #6 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, and then, boom, he was traded to the Mariners that very offseason. Remember that deal? The one that sent Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to New York? Yeah, that one still stings a little for some of us, especially with the hopes we had for Kelenic to anchor our outfield for years.
His Major League career just hasn’t lived up to that massive hype. The 27-year-old has now bounced around four different MLB organizations, seeing action with our Mariners, then the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, and most recently, the Texas Rangers. He became a free agent after declining a Minor League assignment from Texas, and that’s how he landed with the Bronx Bombers. Across 443 career games, he owns a .211 batting average and a .654 OPS, with 50 home runs and 162 RBI. This season in the Majors, he struggled even more, hitting .219 with just one home run and six RBI in 36 games combined between the White Sox and Rangers. It’s been a tough road to watch for a player with so much raw talent.
That Triple-A Bat Woke Up, And The Yankees Noticed
Here’s the wild part, the thing that probably got the Yankees’ attention: Kelenic has been absolutely tearing it up in the Minors this season. In 37 games with Triple-A Round Rock, he hit a scorching .373 with an insane 1.102 OPS. That’s a huge contrast to his big league numbers, and it definitely shows there’s still plenty of offensive ability in his bat, even if it hasn’t translated consistently to the big show.
This move is pretty intriguing for the Yankees. They don’t need to rush him onto the Major League roster. He can report to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, get those regular at-bats, and try to rebuild his confidence while providing some extra outfield depth for their organization. With Cody Bellinger back from the injured list and Aaron Judge expected to return sometime in September, Kelenic doesn’t have an obvious path to the Bronx right now. But if he starts mashing like he did in Triple-A earlier this year, things could change fast.
It’s a low-risk move for the Yankees, no doubt. But for us M’s fans, it’s another chapter in a story that still feels a little raw. Will he finally put it all together up in Scranton and force his way back to the show? You know our M’s fans will be watching, waiting to see if the guy who was once supposed to be our future ever actually lives up to that insane potential, even if it’s in pinstripes. It’s wild to think about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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