Mariners demote Kelenic after poor start to 2022 season
The Seattle Mariners optioned former top outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic to Triple-A, the club announced Friday.
Kelenic slashed .140/.219/.291 with three homers over 30 games to start the 2022 campaign. The 22-year-old owns a .594 OPS with 17 round-trippers and 53 RBIs over 123 contests in the majors since debuting last season.
The M's had essentially stopped playing Kelenic vs. lefty starters in hopes that success vs. righties would help him get going.
ā Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) May 13, 2022
Over his last 16 games played (12 starts), Kelenic had a .105/.209/.211 slash line with a double, a homer, three RBI, five walks and 16 Ks in 43 PAs.
Kelenic's demotion comes exactly one year after he made his MLB debut, and right before the Mariners start a series with the New York Mets, who traded him to Seattle in the Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz blockbuster.
The Mariners also selected veteran outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and reinstated reliever Sergio Romo among a flurry of moves.