Kelenic's Comeback: Braves Star Seeks Redemption vs Mariners

In the batter’s box at T-Mobile Park, Jarred Kelenic dug his cleats into the dirt, taking a deep breath as he awaited the next pitch. The familiar surroundings brought a flood of memories, both triumphant and agonizing, from his tumultuous tenure with the Seattle Mariners. Yet, this time, the 24-year-old outfielder donned the crisp white and red uniform of the Atlanta Braves, a stark contrast to the teal and navy he once sported.

Kelenic’s journey had been a rollercoaster ride, filled with soaring expectations and gut-wrenching lows. Once heralded as the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets, the former first-round pick found himself mired in a cycle of frustration and self-doubt. The nadir came last July when, in a fit of exasperation, he kicked a water cooler in the dugout, fracturing his foot and sidelining himself for nearly two months.

As the Mariners narrowly missed the playoffs, Kelenic’s future in Seattle grew increasingly uncertain. Then, in December, a fresh start presented itself when the Braves acquired him in a salary-dumping trade, offering him a clean slate and a chance to reclaim his once-promising potential.

“It feels like just yesterday when I was sitting over there crying in front of you guys talking about when I broke my foot,” Kelenic reflected before the series opener against his former team. “And I feel like ever since then, I’ve grown so much, just as a person and a player, really, for the better.”

In the early stages of the 2023 season, Kelenic has embraced his new surroundings, batting a respectable .303 in 23 games for the Braves. While the home runs and RBIs have been slow to materialize, his steady presence in the ninth spot of the lineup has provided a glimpse of the talent that once made him a coveted prospect.

“Things happen in baseball,” Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged. “You build relationships, equity with players, and then when it doesn’t work out the way you’re hoping, it’s disappointing. But it happens with a lot of guys. They get traded once or twice, and then all of a sudden something clicks for them.”

As the series against the surging Mariners winds down, with the Braves seeking to salvage the finale after a pair of one-run losses, Kelenic’s redemption arc takes center stage. Each at-bat, each swing of the bat, is a testament to his resilience and determination to prove his worth on the grand stage of Major League Baseball.

“Jarred’s got a lot of baseball ahead of him. I’m sure he’ll do fine,” Servais added, his focus firmly set on halting his former pupil’s ascendancy.

For Kelenic, the journey continues, one pitch at a time, as he seeks to author a new chapter in his baseball odyssey – a tale of perseverance, growth, and the unwavering pursuit of greatness.