When the Atlanta Braves traded for Jarred Kelenic at the start of the 2024 offseason, the hope was the team had found their starting left fielder. Ronald Acuna Jr. had right field locked down and Michael Harris is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Kelenic simply needed to play at a high level at left field and be competitive at the plate.
Through the first month plus of the season, this looked to have worked with Kelenic hitting .288 and finding consistent ways to get on base. Adjustments were made and as the season wore on the outfielder's production would make him unplayable. Kelenic hit .137 in July and it became glaring that all confidence had been lost at the plate. The Braves traded for former World Series MVP Jorge Soler in an effort to patch together a capable outfield for the rest of the season. Kelenic became a bench piece that was a liability at the plate.
Injuries Have Given Jarred Kelenic a Second Chance to Claim Starting Job in Atlanta
Despite Kelenic's end-of-season collapse, the lack of offseason signings for Atlanta has kept the door open. Atlanta doesn't expect Ronald Acuna Jr. to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. This leaves Michael Harris and Jurickson Profar as the only outfielders locked into the starting lineup. This leaves one starting spot to be claimed by either Luke Williams, Eli White, Kelenic, or Bryan De La Cruz.
Having the most experience and having Atlanta's highest level of investment, it is easy to consider Kelenic the early favorite to start in left field. Even if the Braves opt to go with a platoon early in the season, it will involve Kelenic. Bryan De La Cruz is likely to serve as the fourth outfielder and give the Braves a right-handed platoon option.
Whether it is deserved or not, the Braves are handing Kelenic the chance to be the player they hoped to find last season. The version of the outfielder Atlanta watched for the first two months of the season. If Kelenic can find anywhere close to this version of himself, Atlanta's outfield will be suddenly stacked with the signing of Profar and the impending return of Acuna. A player who looked to be a sure trade or cut in the offseason has been handed a second chance, and it's one that will go a long way in deciding just how good this Atlanta offense might be.