Jared Kelenic’s Citi Field debut was a long time coming.
The Mets’ first-round pick and sixth overall pick in 2018 returned to the Queens stadium with the Braves on Friday for the first time since he was a prospect coming out of high school.
At the time, he expected Citi Field to be his future home.
“I definitely thought I would play here.” [with the Mets]” Kelenic said Friday night before the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Braves. “I never thought I’d be traded. In my head, this was home.”
However, about six months after the Mets drafted him, Kelenic was traded to the Mariners as part of the deal that brought Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to Queens.
Before the deal was finalized, Kelenic was scheduled to make one trip to Citi Field as part of what he called a “rookie camp” for young prospects.
He arrived at Citi Field along with fellow prospects Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos.
His journey back was a circuitous one.
Due to injury last season and demotion in 2022, Kelenic missed Seattle’s trip to Citi Field.
And since he wasn’t in the lineup for Friday’s game against left-hander Jose Quintana in Atlanta, he will have to wait at least another day before playing in front of a Citi Field crowd.
“They’ll probably just boo,” Kelenic said. “So what should I do if that happens?”
Kelenic has been consistent since being traded from Seattle to Atlanta last offseason, with the 24-year-old serving as the Braves’ regular left fielder against right-handed pitchers.
The Mets will have right-handers Christian Scott and Luis Severino on Saturday and Sunday, so Kelennic will likely join them.
Kelenic knows he will be playing against the Mets a lot.
Their first meeting took place in Atlanta last month.
Now that he’s back, Kelenic said: I’m trying to treat this as a separate series and get some W’s. I’m excited to go head-to-head with them. ”
