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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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: Getting afternoon off
Rotowire
Kelenic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Though the Blue Jays are sending a right-hander (Chris Bassitt) to the hill for a day game after a night game, the lefty-hitting Kelenic will head to the bench. Kelenic is slashing just .171/.275/.286 (65 wRC+) over 35 plate appearances against right-handers this season, and his ongoing struggles could cost him his strong-side platoon role once Alex Verdugo is called up from Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: Idle Wednesday vs. lefty
Rotowire
Kelenic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Kelenic will get a chance to catch his breath Wednesday after going 3-for-19 with a home run and seven strikeouts through Atlanta's first six contests. His absence will move Bryan De La Cruz to left field, which opens up right field for Stuart Fairchild against Los Angeles southpaw Blake Snell.
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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