NORTH PORT, Fla. — Whether talking to Jarred Kelenic at Braves Fest or during these early days of Spring Training, it’s been obvious he is extremely happy in his new environment.
“This organization does a lot of the little things that other organizations might not do,” Kelenic said. “They really focus on their craft and when they do drills, they give 110 percent. That’s what matters.”
Kelenic has been pleased with everything he has experienced since being traded to the Braves from the Mariners in December. He hit with Matt Olson in Atlanta a few weeks back and he has already formed a bond with potential hunting buddy Austin Riley. It hasn’t taken him long to feel like one of the guys.
“A lot of the guys have just treated me like I’ve been here for a while,” Kelenic said. “That’s been super encouraging because we’re about to go to war here in a few weeks. It’s been fun.”
Finding early comfort should prove beneficial to Kelenic, who has been surrounded by pressure since the Mets took him with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Expectations grew when the Mariners used Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó to acquire him at the end of the 2018 season.
Kelenic ranked as MLB’s No. 4 prospect as recently as 2021, but the early go hasn’t been easy for the 24-year-old outfielder, who has constructed a .656 OPS through his first three big league seasons (252 games).
“He’s a very talented young man,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Now it’s all about getting results.”
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