White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Making third straight start
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Kelenic will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Angels.
Kelenic didn't start in either of the White Sox's first two games following his promotion from Triple-A Charlotte last Wednesday, but he'll crack the lineup Monday for a third straight contest. All of those starts have come against right-handed pitching, and Kelenic could be tasked with handling a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield while Everson Pereira (pectoral) and Austin Hays (calf) are on the shelf. The 26-year-old hasn't provided much reason to get excited about his fantasy prospects just yet, going 1-for-6 with a walk and a strikeout through his first three games with Chicago after turning in an .810 OPS with six home runs and seven stolen bases but striking out at a bloated 28.8 percent clip in 26 Triple-A contests.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Back in majors with White Sox
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The White Sox selected Kelenic's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Kelenic was batting .202 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate at Charlotte, but he had been swinging a hot bat of late with five home runs across his last 10 contests. The 26-year-old will likely operate as a reserve outfielder for Chicago.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Won't make Opening Day roster
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Kelenic was informed Friday that he wouldn't be part of the White Sox' Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Kelenic will remain in big-league camp, but won't be part of the 26-man roster when Opening Day rolls around. The veteran was brought on as a non-roster invitee after a disappointing 2025 season with Atlanta and couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, going 7-for-39 (.179) in spring training before the decision was made to leave him off the roster.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Signs with White Sox as NRI
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The White Sox signed Kelenic to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Kelenic's 2025 season was his worst one yet, as he slashed only .167/.231/.300 in 24 games for Atlanta and just .213/.286/.309 across 95 contests with Triple-A Gwinnett. The former top prospect is still just 26, and he's heading to an organization with a clear opening in right field. Still, the odds are long that he will crack the Opening Day roster and make an impact with the big club.
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Jarred Kelenic: Hits free agency
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Kelenic elected to become a free agent Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Kelenic has refused Atlanta's outright assignment, choosing to become a free agent instead. The former top prospect slashed only .222/.279/.381 during his two seasons in Atlanta and hit just .167/.231/.300 in 24 games with Triple-A Gwinnett in 2025. Kelenic is still just 26, so he'll get another chance elsewhere, but it's unlikely he'll be guaranteed a regular role in 2026.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Optioned back to minors
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Atlanta optioned Kelenic to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Kelenic had been recalled last week but didn't receive a single plate appearance during his stint with the big club. He's being replaced on the 26-man roster by Jonathan Ornelas, who was recalled from Gwinnett.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Recalled from Triple-A
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Atlanta recalled Kelenic from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Kelenic will join Atlanta as a replacement on the active roster for the injured Ronald Acuna (Achilles) and could see plenty of action in right field while Acuna recuperates. The 26-year-old Kelenic was sent down to Gwinnett in late April after slashing .167/.231/.300 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate, and he hasn't performed much better at Gwinnett, hitting only .217/.289/.322 over 305 plate appearances.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sent down to Triple-A
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Atlanta optioned Kelenic to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Even with Atlanta missing Ronald Acuna (knee) and Jurickson Profar (suspension), Kelenic finds himself the odd man out in the club's outfield mix. He has slashed only .167/.231/.300 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate this season and has done very little since arriving in Atlanta last season outside of one big month last June when he had a .900 OPS. Kelenic is still just 25 but is sitting on a career .658 OPS and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 406 major-league games.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sitting again Saturday
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Kelenic is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.
After starting the season with a .531 OPS through 65 plate appearances, Kelenic will give way to Eli White in right field for a second consecutive game.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Not starting Friday
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Kelenic isn't in the lineup for Atlanta's game against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Kelenic will take a seat Friday after going 4-for-19 with a homer, three runs scored and six strikeouts over his last six games. His absence will clear a spot in right field for Eli White to pick up a start and bat eighth.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Connects for second homer
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Kelenic went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 win over the Twins.
Kelenic was 0-for-8 over his previous four games and has started to see his playing time diminish amid the slump. The 25-year-old outfielder got Atlanta on the board with a fifth-inning homer Friday, and he's up to two homers, two RBI, five runs scored and a .163/.250/.326 slash line over 48 plate appearances this season. Kelenic is strictly a strong-side platoon option, and in the long run, he could become a bench outfielder once Ronald Acuna (knee) is ready to make his season debut.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: On bench against lefty
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Kelenic is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
The left-handed-hitting Kelenic will retreat to the bench while the Blue Jays send southpaw Easton Lucas to the hill for the series opener. Stuart Fairchild will pick up a start in right field in place of Kelenic.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sitting against southpaw
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Kelenic isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo will toe the slab for Philadelphia on Thursday, so the lefty-hitting Kelenic will begin the game on the bench. While he rests, Bryan De La Cruz, Michael Harris and Stuart Fairchild will start across the outfield for Atlanta.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Socks first homer of 2025
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Kelenic went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.
The 25-year-old took Dylan Cease deep to lead off the top of the fifth inning and tie the game at 3-3. It was Kelenic's first hit of the season after an 0-for-4 showing in an Opening Day loss. Atlanta is counting on Kelenic to fill a strong-side platoon role in right field while waiting for Ronald Acuna (knee) to return, but he's hit ninth in both games so far and his fantasy utility is limited to deep mixed and NL-only formats.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Pops first spring homer
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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: Losing work to Laureano
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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: Not in Monday's lineup
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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
Rotowire
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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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Socks 15th homer
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Kelenic went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
The 25-year-old got Atlanta on the board in the second inning by belting a Yariel Rodriguez splitter over the fence in right-center field. Kelenic has a modest five-game hit streak going in which he's produced two homers and five RRBI, but on the season he's slashing just .234/.287/.401 with 15 long balls, seven steals, 44 RBI and 48 runs in 126 contests.
