On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners welcomed Jarred Kelenic to the major leagues with his debut start against a left-handed pitcher. The 21-year-old outfielder was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and is considered one of the top prospects in baseball.
Kelenic was called up from the Mariners’ alternate training site in Tacoma, Washington and made his first start against the Los Angeles Angels and left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney. He went 0-for-3 in his debut, striking out twice and grounding out to second base. Despite the lack of success in his first game, Kelenic showed off his impressive speed and athleticism in the outfield.
Kelenic is the latest in a long line of top prospects that the Mariners have brought up to the majors in recent years. He joins Kyle Lewis, Evan White, and Justus Sheffield as part of a young core that the Mariners hope will lead them back to contention in the American League West.
Kelenic is expected to be a key contributor to the Mariners’ lineup this season. He has a career .291 batting average in the minor leagues and has shown an ability to hit for power and average. He also has excellent speed on the bases and is an above-average defender in the outfield.
The Mariners are hoping that Kelenic’s debut start is the first of many successful appearances for the young outfielder. He has all the tools to be a star in the major leagues and could be a key piece of the Mariners’ future success. Only time will tell if Kelenic can live up to his potential, but for now, Seattle fans can take solace in knowing that they have one of the best prospects in baseball on their team.
