Braves Trade For A Former Top Five MLB Prospect

The Atlanta Braves have officially acquired outfielder Jarred Kelenic from the Seattle Mariners in a trade that was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. This move provides Kelenic with a change of scenery, as he has experienced a somewhat slow start to his major league career. Alongside Kelenic, the Braves are also adding left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White to their roster. In exchange, the Mariners are receiving two right-handed pitching prospects, Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar.

Kelenic, originally drafted sixth overall by the New York Mets in 2018, was later traded to the Mariners in a deal involving Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. Despite the early excitement surrounding his potential, Kelenic faced challenges in the majors, hitting .181 with 106 strikeouts in 93 games in 2021. The following season, he struggled initially and was demoted to the minors, playing in only 54 major league games with a batting average of .141.

However, in the last season, Kelenic showed improvement, playing in 105 games and raising his average to .253. He achieved career highs in RBI (49), doubles (25), and OPS (.746). Although these numbers may not be extraordinary, they suggest that Kelenic is on the path to further development. The trade to the Braves, a National League powerhouse, presents an opportunity for him to potentially elevate his performance to an All-Star level. Reports from David O’Brien of The Athletic indicate that Kelenic will be in competition for the left field position with Vaughn Grissom, and there is a possibility of platooning the two.

In addition to Kelenic, the Braves are gaining the experience of veteran starter Marco Gonzales and the defensive prowess of 2020 Gold Glover Evan White. On the Mariners’ side of the deal, Jackson Kowar, a first-round pick in 2018, and Cole Phillips, a second-rounder in 2022, bring promising prospects to Seattle. Kowar has pitched in 39 games for the Kansas City Royals from 2021 to 2023, while Phillips is yet to make his debut in the big leagues.