Seattle Mariners: Setting expectations for Jarred Kelenic in 2022
Joe Swenson
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What to expect from JK in 2022
Cautiously optimistic should be in the mind of every Seattle Mariners fan. Optimistic is what team management should see, but they also have to be realistic. Realistically, Jarred Kelenic is young and very inexperienced. The M’s shouldn’t put unrealistic expectations on his potential. That’s even more true because phenom Julio Rodriguez is waiting in the wings and ready to battle him to be the face of the franchise.
Is there enough room for Kelenic to shine and still get face time? Certainly, but the M’s have to be practical about what they expect from him in 20222.
What is his potential? He’s potentially a left-handed Mitch Haniger, and possibly much more. His numbers from September bare that out. Haniger is a borderline All-Star. Having two borderline All-Stars in the outfield with the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year, Kyle Lewis, riding shotgun and J-Rod on the way is a wonderful problem to have. They are the players who can make the Mariners into a powerhouse offensive team, similar to where they were at the turn of the century.
Final Thoughts
Jarred Kelenic is a baseball player that desperately wants to be successful. His confidence coming into 2021 was infectious. His struggles through his first 235 at bats with the Mariners were heartbreaking and confidence-shattering. Yet, he finished August stronger than any previous month and achieved respectable September numbers to finish the season.
Will he be the All-Star caliber player that his number four ranked prospect status from 2021 would suggest? He could be, he could also be a fringe All-Star, and that’s good enough to continue to build out the nucleus of a young talented team.
He won’t be Julio Rodriguez, though. J-Rod is on a completely different level in nearly all aspects of being a future All-Star. Jarred could still be good, really good. For a team that badly needs offense, Seattle will take good.
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Joe Swenson is a self-proclaimed sports junky, award-winning playwright, director, producer, author. Overall, he’s a nice dude that loves statistics and roots for the Mariners to end their playoff drought.