Why The White Sox’s Flier On Kelenic Could Be Worthwhile

With outfield depth being a need, the White Sox decided to take a flier on former first-round pick Jarred Kelenic. 

The White Sox signed Kelenic to a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to camp. This comes after the front office signed Dustin Harris to a similar deal. While Kelenic faces an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, the move provides the White Sox with additional options in an area of need.

The 26-year old was once considered a top prospect in baseball, ranking as high as No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospect list in 2021. After being taken by the Mets with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Kelnic was traded to the Mariners in a blockbuster deal for Edwin Diaz. 

However, Kelenic has struggled since making his MLB debut with Seattle in 2021. In five big league season he owns a career .211/.282/.376 slash line while striking out in over 30% of his plate appearances. 

In three seasons with the Mariners, he was limited to 32 home runs and 109 RBIs, which propted the team to trade him to the Braves during the 2023 offseason. The change of scenery didn’t do Kelenic much good. While he did hit a career high 15 homers in 2024, he had the worst season of his career in 2025, hitting .167 in 24 games before getting sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett. 

His minor league numbers didn’t get much better as he slashed just .213/.286/.309 in 95 games. So why is Kelenic worth the flier?

For starters, the White Sox need a right fielder, with top prospect Braden Montgomery still needing time in the minor leagues. The White Sox allow Kelenic an opportunity to get extended playing time in a much lower pressure environemt. 

He also has a good arm, ranking in the MLB’s 90th percentile in arm strength last season. While Kelenic’s overall offensive numbers have been ugly, he does still have some traits that suggest he could turn things around. He has excellent bat speed and owned a high barrel percentage with the Braves in his last two seasons. 

Kelenic’s biggest issues have been his high strikeout rate and tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone. However, the White Sox made significant strides in addressing those weaknesses last season. With an overhauled coaching staff, Kelenic has a real opportunity to work on and correct these problems.

While Kelenic’s draft pedigree has likely given him more opportunities than most players with his track record, he represents a low-risk move for the White Sox. He comes at no cost, and if he has a strong spring and earns a roster spot, he could benefit from being part of a young, energetic White Sox core.

The team doesn’t need him to be a superstar. If Kelenic can hit 15-plus home runs and drive in 50 RBIs—a career-high but realistic target—he would make for a worthwhile gamble.