Seattle Mariners: 3 prospects who could make the opening day roster

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PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 10: Jarred Kelenic #58 of the Seattle Mariners follows through on a swing against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 10, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Jarred Kelenic

Jarred Kelenic is one of the best prospects in baseball, and is in almost every rankings top 15 for the entire league. Many regard him as a future perennial All-Star with eye-popping minor league stats like an .882 OPS in 751 plate appearances, and there is no doubt that he will be up in the major leagues at some point in 2021.

Many wanted Kelenic to be called up in 2020 but the Mariners made the smart move in a year that they weren’t competing by not losing a year of team control to only bring up Kelenic for 30-40 games.

My prediction is that Kelenic does not make the opening day roster as the Mariners want to use the service time rules to their advantage so they get an extra year of control. However, the first possible day that he can come up and remain under team control through 2027 he will be up.

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There is a chance that he is not called up in the first few weeks of the season however if the Mariners outfield is hitting well and there is no spot for Kelenic in the lineup, but injuries and poor performance with one of Seattle’s 3 starting outfielders is bound to happen, so Kelenic will be up before the All-Star break.

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