Mets 1st round pick @JKelenic_1019 taking BP at Citi Field pic.twitter.com/GZnmiraroN
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) June 27, 2018
New York Mets first-round pick Jarred Kelenic took batting practice with the team recently before starting his minor league career.
During the draft on June 4, the New York Mets drafted outfielder Jarred Kelenic with the sixth overall pick. The high school outfielder out of Wisconsin was the highest Mets draft pick since Philip Humber was taken third overall in 2004.
Recently, the prospect took batting practice with the team at Citi Field. Thanks to a video from SNY (via Twitter), we can see the teenager’s swing. Although he’s obviously still a raw player, the video of him swinging is impressive. He has a level swing and his bat speed appears strong for a player so young.
Mets 1st round pick @JKelenic_1019 taking BP at Citi Field pic.twitter.com/GZnmiraroN
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) June 27, 2018
Kelenic was regarded as the most advanced high school bat coming out of the draft. The (apparently) former Washington Nationals fan was selected in part because it was believed he would sign for less than his allotted slot bonus, which he wound up doing.
He has already both played and played well in big games. In 2016 he was a part of the United States’ U-18 team that collected the gold at the Pan-American Games. He was named MVP of the tournament after an impressive showing. He also won the gold medal at the 2017 U-18 World Cup.
That big-game experience will help him as he advances through the minors (he is starting in rookie ball) and (ideally) makes it to the majors. He has shown that big moments don’t get to him, as he can handle playing against the best in the world at his age group.
He is the first hitter drafted in the first round by the Mets since fellow outfielder Michael Conforto was selected in 2014. He is the first high school player selected since Dominic Smith (2013), and the first high school outfielder selected since Brandon Nimmo (2011).
There’s no doubt both the Mets and their fans will be hoping Kelenic can become as good as Nimmo and Conforto are. At least this gives them some hope to cling onto with such a devastating season underway.
