Mariners Prospect “Flop” Tearing It Up This Spring

For the third straight spring, Seattle Mariners fans are hoping this is the year. The former first-rounder, 6th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, might finally be ready to tap into his massive potential. Certainly if Jarred Kelenic's spring training performance so far is any indication, it may just happen.

Jarred Kelenic is the next Mariners breakout star. I feel it. Yes, I want to overreact Spring. HE IS HIM.

.412 4HRs 1.530 OPS 🔥 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/Rgago3A9VT

— Seattle Mariners ON Tap (@MarinersONtap) March 6, 2023

Kelenic is batting .412 this spring with four bombs and a 1.530 OPS.

The 23-year-old outfielder—yes, he's still only 23—has had 500 at-bats over his various trials with the Mariners in his first two seasons. And all it's amounted to is a .168 average and a .589 OPS. Sure, it comes with 21 homers, but also 167 strikeouts.

On Sunday he ripped his 4th homer of the very young spring, and off a pretty good pitcher, the Milwaukee Brewers' closer Devin Williams.  

.@jarredkelenic just cleared the batter's eye 😳 pic.twitter.com/TjhjcCa5dR

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 5, 2023

His first two homers of the spring traveled 428 and 438 feet. 

He spent the offseason working on a new swing, and thus far, it certainly seems to be paying off. 

So after all the talk of a flopped prospect the past couple of springs, perhaps this is the year that Kelenic is finally turning the corner.

“It did seem like every spring training there has been some sort of Jarred drama one way or the other,” Mariners manager Scott Servais joked. “I think he’s probably just ready to come in and go do his job.”

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports