Jared Kelenic is heading to Chicago, hoping to find success in the major leagues.
The former top prospect for the Mets has signed a minor league contract with the White Sox, as initially reported by ESPN.
This non-roster deal includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
At just 26 years old, Kelenic was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, quickly earning a spot as the third-best prospect in the Mets’ organization according to MLB.com.
However, the Mets traded him to the Mariners in December 2018 as part of a significant seven-player trade that also brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to New York.
Kelenic made his major league debut for the Mariners in May 2021, yet he has struggled consistently at the plate.
Over five MLB seasons, he recorded a .211/.282/.376 batting line with a strikingly high 30.6% strikeout rate.
There was a glimmer of hope in 2023 when Kelenic seemed to be turning things around, hitting .253/.327/.419 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs across 105 games. But, well, he created some controversy for himself. In July, he broke his left foot after kicking a water cooler in frustration, which kept him out until mid-September during a promising phase of his career.
After the incident, Kelenic expressed regret, saying, “I feel really terrible, especially for the players. I let my emotions get the better of me, and I take full responsibility for letting them down. It’s on me and that can’t happen.”
After that season, Seattle traded him to the Braves, where he became their regular center fielder.
Even though he hit a career-high 15 home runs, Kelenic continued to strike out at a high rate, recording a 29.6% strikeout percentage in 2024.
The following season, though, was quite a struggle—he managed to hit only .167 in 24 games. Meanwhile, his lack of hustle drew criticism from Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr.
In 2025, Kelenic spent most of his time in the minors, playing 95 games with Triple-A Gwinnett and hitting a disappointing .213 with just four home runs.
The White Sox have been active this offseason, also signing former Mets prospect Anthony Kay and Japanese hitter Munetaka Murakami.
Kelenic is expected to provide depth for the team, but with the potential addition of Mets target Luis Robert Jr., playing time could become more competitive.
