Seattle Mariners: Setting expectations for Jarred Kelenic in 2022
Joe Swenson
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Kelenic’s Adjustments
Kelenic made two massive adjustments to his batting stance after his return to Tacoma. The first was to stand more upright, and the second was to open up his stance more. Both seemed to work until the inevitable, Major League pitching figured out where his new holes were located.
It’s a never-ending chess match where the best hitters always seem to be a step ahead of the pitchers. For example, Manny Ramirez was notorious for baiting pitchers into making the same pitch twice and getting them off their game plan. He’d flail miserably at a pitch just to get it again.
It is no surprise that Kelenic’s ability to hit a fastball was okay-to-good as the season went on. Even Triple-A hitters can turn on a mid-90s heater, it’s the off-speed stuff that separates Major League hitters from those in the high minors.
The lefty’s ability to hit breaking stuff was not good at any point in 2021. But his ability to hit a change-up was even worse. Kelenic posted a .121 batting average against change-ups and had similar power numbers against breaking stuff.
For Kelenic to be the potential face of the Seattle Mariners franchise he needs to stop getting fooled so often, calm his rhythm, set his head, and maximize the skills he’s worked tirelessly to hone. Most importantly, the young man needs his confidence to be real and not broken easily.
September
The rookie had a decent, some would say good month, to finish the season. It was timely as well, with the complete deterioration of Abraham Toro‘s performance, the Mariners needed Jarred down the stretch to stay in contention. He finished strong, as his .854 OPS for the month indicates. If his September numbers were applied to a full 162 game season, he would’ve finished with All-Star type numbers. 39 home runs, 78 extra-base hits, 112 RBIs, only 162 strikeouts, but also 67 walks.
September as a whole month was decent, but during the final seven games of the season, he batted .333 with a .541 slugging percentage, .407 on base percentage (.948 OPS), 5 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Kelenic struck out 5 times (20.8 percent), which was well below his season average of 31.4 percent.
Good for Jarred Kelenic. Huge hit in September. pic.twitter.com/7D2GD5F3li
— Amazin' Army (@WE_ARE_MET_FANS) September 30, 2021