DENVER — The Atlanta Braves quickly pulled the plug on the Jarred Kelenic experiment. Now it is as much as the 25-year-old outfielder to show himself in Triple-A.
Earlier than the Braves opened a three-game sequence in Denver in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, Kelenic was optioned to Triple-A as Atlanta reunited with outfielder Eddie Rosario on a Main League contact after Rosario was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers and he elected free company.
“I feel will probably be good for Jared to return and play, get at-bats, and Eddie can come right here and possibly deal with among the left-handed pinch-hitting,” Atlanta supervisor Brian Snitker stated earlier than Monday’s recreation. “He is finished that earlier than, been very profitable at it. So it is good to get once you get an skilled man like that.”
Rosario returns to the Braves after being a key piece of their 2021 World Sequence-winning squad. He earned Nationwide League Championship Sequence Most Helpful Participant honors after slashing .560/.607/1.040 in 28 plate appearances in opposition to the Dodgers.
“It is good to be again with teammates, coaches, and folks I am acquainted with,” Rosario stated by an interpreter. “We have had loads of good moments right here. I feel there are at all times highs and lows, however I am grateful to be right here proper now.”
Coming to the Braves in a commerce earlier than the 2024 season started, Kelenic’s time in Atlanta has been disappointing. In 514 plate appearances over 154 video games, Kelenic has slashed .222/.279/.381 and posted an OPS+ of 84 (MLB common is 100).
Kelenic additionally drew latest criticism for a base operating error that turned into a public relations fiasco for the Braves after injured Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. chimed in on social media about Atlanta’s remedy of Kelenic’s psychological mistake.
With Eli White stepping up as one of many scorching bats for Atlanta’s outfield in a small pattern dimension, slashing .273/.351/.545 in 37 plate appearances, Snitker believed the Braves have choices whereas Kelenic will get an opportunity to be taught with constant at-bats at Triple-A Gwinnett.
“Eli has been finished very well,” Snitker stated. “He has had nice at-bats, and he is a talented man. Jarred has choices so he can return down and play. We’ll in all probability run him round all of the outfield positions and get him common at-bats, and that’ll be good for him.”
