April 26, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jarred Kelenic (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelenic will remain on the bench for the second straight game, which shouldn't come as a surprise given how his season has gone. Over his last six games, Kelenic has four hits with only one homer and four strikeouts to go along with it.
Eli White will take over right field and bat eighth versus right-hander
Merrill Kelly. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option than White for Saturday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
February 17, 2025
According to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Braves outfielder
Jarred Kelenic played through several injuries last season. Toscano noted that the outfielder battled an oblique, wrist, and foot injury during the season. Kelenic said that none were "serious" and were just the result of the long season. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Kelenic is expected to compete for opportunities in right field alongside
Bryan De La Cruz, while
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is sidelined. Both outfielders will likely be deployed in a platoon role, but a strong spring training could increase his playing opportunities. Last season, the former top prospect posted a .231/.286/.393 line with 15 home runs and seven stolen bases. However, when facing right-handers, he was more effective, as he held a .235/.295/.416 line. If he opens the season on the strong side of a platoon, he could have value in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano
February 11, 2025
Until Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is able to return from a torn left ACL he suffered last year,
Jarred Kelenic will be the team's primary right fielder, but MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that Kelenic could platoon with the right-handed-hitting
Bryan De La Cruz.
Jurickson Profar will start in left, and
Michael Harris II will be in center field. In his first year with Atlanta in 2024, Kelenic, a former top prospect with the Seattle Mariners, slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs in 131 regular-season games. The 25-year-old posted a rough .595 OPS in the second half and will likely be Atlanta's fourth outfielder when Acuna returns. De La Cruz, 28, doesn't really take many walks, but he did hit .285/.309/.425 in 188 plate appearances against lefties with the Marlins and Pirates. A short-side platoon early on could give him some fantasy appeal in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
January 9, 2025
According to the team, outfielder
Jarred Kelenic and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.3 million to avoid arbitration. The former top prospect spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves. While he performed well at times, he struggled to find consistency as he held an overall .231/.286/.393 slash line with 15 home runs and seven stolen bases. During the first half, he held a solid .255 AVG and a .418 SLG but saw his production drop considerably in the second half to a mere .182 AVG and a .343 SLG. The 25-year-old generated a modest 45.2% hard-hit rate and a 9.9% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect Kelenic to operate as the everyday left fielder in Atlanta in 2025 but could be given a shorter leash given his late-season struggles in 2024.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
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