Jarred Kelenic Hits .202 Before White Sox Call-Up
jarred kelenic is back in the major leagues after the White Sox called him up Wednesday, a move tied to Everson Pereira going on the injured list with a strained muscle on the right side of his chest. Kelenic’s latest stop comes after a modest stretch at Triple-A Charlotte, where his next at-bat will be judged against much more than spring training numbers.
He hit.202 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 26 Triple-A games this season. Before Friday’s 8-2 win over the Padres, he had not played for Chicago since pinch-hitting in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Angels and striking out swinging.
White Sox and Kelenic
Kelenic said before Friday’s game that the message was direct. “I think the message was pretty clear,” he said. “Really focus on controlling the strike zone. They were really high on my talent. They knew that as long as I began controlling the strike zone and getting my ‘A’ swing out, good things would happen.”
The White Sox had already seen the other side of that equation in spring training, when he batted.179 and was demoted. His recent run in Triple-A was better, though, with a.333 average, five home runs, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in his last 10 games before the call-up.
Will Venable on the move
Manager Will Venable said the organization had patience built into the decision. “It was a tough decision to send him down,” he said. “He hadn’t really tapped into his best swing. He did some good things defensively. He clicked on a couple of balls at the plate in camp, but he wasn’t the best version of himself.”
Venable added that the work in Charlotte was part of the reset. “He went down, struggled a little bit early but did some quality work to get himself back on track to be the best version of himself. And that’s what we expect to get out of him now.”
From No. 6 pick to Chicago
The stop in Chicago also adds another chapter to a career that has moved quickly since the Mets selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was traded to the Mariners on Dec. 3, 2018, in the deal that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets, then batted a combined.168 with 167 strikeouts in 147 games for Seattle in 2021 and 2022.
His path has also included a mid-2023 fractured left foot after he kicked a Gatorade cooler in the home dugout. For the White Sox, the immediate read is simple: a fourth-place roster spot is not the story here, but whether Kelenic can turn a brief look into steadier major league production after a.202 Triple-A line.
