2024 Mariners Player Rankings #10: Jarred Kelenic...

Well, this is a bit awkward. The Mariners traded Jarred Kelenic, along with LHP Marco Gonzales and 1B Evan White to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Jackson Kowar and RHP prospect Cole Phillips. You can read more about who the pitchers the Mariners received right here. But for now, we are going to talk about the recently departed OF, Jarred Kelenic.

Jarred Kelenic was #10 in our 2024 Player Rankings

Kelenic cracked the top 10 for us in 2023. He was expected to be a starting corner outfielder for the Mariners for the foreseeable future. There were rumblings that Kelenic could be moved, but I do not think anybody expected it to happen... especially for a relief pitcher and a prospect. He will now be fighting for a starting lineup spot in one of the best lineups in all of baseball, the Atlanta Braves.

2023 was a roller coaster ride for Kelenic. He put forth his best statistical season yet, but he also missed almost 2 months with a broken foot. He broke that foot kicking a water cooler in the clubhouse after striking out. He was able to come back, Through May 1st, Kelenic hit 7 home runs, 7 doubles, and hit .308. He was starting to look like the superstar Mariners fans were dreaming about. The home runs cooled off, as he would only hit 4 more the rest of the season.

Kelenic finished his 2023 campaign batting .253/.327/.419 with a wRC+ of 108. He hit 11 home runs and drove in 49. He also stole 13 bases, and earned 2.0 WAR for the season. His career WAR is now back to 0.0. While all of that is fine and good, Kelenic still struggled with strikeouts, striking out 31.7% of the time. That was down 2% from 2022, where he struck out 33.7%.

Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said he wanted to eliminate strikeouts, and he has made good to that comment. The Mariners are not bringing back any of the key starters who struck out 30% or more. Teoscar Hernandez (31%), Eugenio Suarez (31%) and Kelenic (32%) are now gone. I guess Dipoto was serious when he said he wanted to eliminate the strikeout problem.

Jarred's strikeout problems were among the league's worst in 2023. According to Baseball Savant, Kelenic was in the 9% percentile in Wiff percentage, and 7th percentile in strikeout percentage. The only category where he was deemed "Excellent" was his sweet spot %, where he ranked in the 91st percentile. Now, he is still just 24 years old. He still has a chance to live up to the hype that has surrounded him. I am just bummed he didn't show it in a Mariners uniform. Unfortunately, He will be among the other busts what Mariners fans remember.

As always, go Mariners!