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Seattle Mariners fans went on full red alert on Monday after outfielder Jarred Kelenic was pulled from Monday’s 7-2 spring training defeat of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kelenic, a former heralded prospect who appears on the cusp of making good in his post-hype era, has been mentioned sporadically in trade talks this spring. His sudden departure had Mariners Nation fearing that the trigger had been pulled.
Not so, according to Seattle manager Scott Servais. Kelenic was merely dealing with minor quad tightness and was pulled as a precaution with the regular season looming ever closer.
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It’s not often that fans hear news of a possible injury and are relieved, but that’s where Mariners fans are these days with Kelenic.
However, in 147 big league games over 2021 and 2022, he hit just .168 with 21 home runs and an eye-popping 167 strikeouts. However, this spring, he is hitting .410 with four home runs, nine RBIs and eight runs.
Seattle faithful believe that Kelenic may be on to something, and they want to see it come to fruition in the Emerald City.
thank god he wasn’t traded Kelenic has never given Mariners fans a reason to get down on him despite his monumental major league struggles. He plays hard, doesn’t pout or lash out. He’s the type of player fans want to root for, and many hope that he gives them the chance to do exactly that.
However, Kelenic wouldn’t be the first player to depart a spring training game early due to an impending tee time at a local golf course. What better way to work out some quad tightness than taking a few cuts with the driver on a challenging par 5?
Of course, Seattle Mariners fans might want to guard about being a little too overconfident in a Kelenic breakout season and how that will lead to the team’s first World Series appearance in franchise history.
Kelenic currently slots in as the Seattle Mariners’ opening day left fielder, according to Fangraphs. Seattle has a fearsome lineup, and if Kelenic is able to pull his weight offensively, it’ll certainly help the Mariners challenge the Houston Astros for American League Western Division superiority.
Hard-hitting Kelenic would be a boon for Seattle Mariners
Many Seattle Mariners fans were disgruntled over the offseason as the team didn’t delve hard into free agency. However, the team did trade for slugging right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in November.
If Kelenic’s hitting comes up to snuff in 2023, the Mariners have a potentially gifted hitting outfield of Kelenic, Hernandez and budding superstar Julio Rodriguez that would be the eny of many teams in the league.
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