Kelenic went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
The 25-year-old outfielder took Wilking Rodriguez deep in the seventh inning, giving Kelenic his first homer of the spring. He's expected to begin the season on the strong side of a platoon in right field with Bryan De La Cruz, but the assignment will only be a temporary one as Atlanta waits for Ronald Acuna (knee) to be cleared for his 2025 debut. Kelenic saw a career-high 449 plate appearances last year, but he turned them into a tepid .231/.286/.393 slash line with 15 homers, 45 RBI and 49 runs.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Competing for right field reps
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Kelenic is slated to compete for playing time in right field until Ronald Acuna (knee) returns, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Newly signed Jurickson Profar is slated for everyday playing time in left field, which leaves Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz in a likely platoon in right field for the first month or so of the season while Acuna is out. Once Acuna returns, Kelenic could be pegged for a fourth outfielder role. The former top prospect slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta, sagging to a .595 OPS in the second half.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Reaches deal with Atlanta
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Atlanta and Kelenic avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
It's a substantial raise for Kelenic, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The 25-year-old outfielder slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta. While Kelenic looks like the favorite right now to open the 2025 season as Atlanta's starting left fielder versus righties, he's probably not guaranteed a job after posting just a .595 OPS in the second half of 2024.
Kelenic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
The left-handed-hitting Kelenic has picked up just two starts in eight games, even while Atlanta has opposed six right-handed starters during that span. After previously occupying the strong side of a platoon in left field, Kelenic appears to have ceded everyday duties at the position to Ramon Laureano. Kelenic's reduction in playing time comes while he's managed a lowly .176/.240/.294 slash line with a 30.7 percent strikeout rate dating back to Aug. 10.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sitting versus southpaw
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Kelenic is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.
The lefty-hitting Kelenic will begin the series opener on the bench as the Reds send southpaw Brandon Williamson to the hill. Ramon Laureano -- who has also been stealing some starts from Kelenic versus righties -- will patrol left field for Atlanta.
Kelenic is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Dodgers.
Kelenic manned left field for Atlanta in both of the last two games, but Ramon Laureano will be in the lineup Monday versus righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Kelenic has now hit the bench four times over the last six contests, with three of his absences coming against right-handed pitchers.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sitting Friday
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Kelenic is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.
Despite having the platoon advantage against right-hander Landon Knack, Kelenic will take a seat for Friday's contest. In his place, Ramon Laureano will play left field and bat sixth. Kelenic is 5-for-19 (.263) with two homers and a stolen base in September.
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