The Jared Kellenick train is just getting into the lowest gear.
The Mariners outfielder, a former top prospect traded by the Mets in a trade for Edwin Diaz, was placed on the 10-day injured list after kicking a water cooler and breaking his left leg during Wednesday night’s 6-3 loss to the Twins.
Kelenic tearfully told reporters Thursday afternoon that he lashed out at a Gatorade water cooler near the dugout after striking out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Twins fireball closer Joan Duran.
“Oh, that’s where I got emotional,” said an emotional Kelenic, holding back tears.
“Especially with the players, it feels terrible. I let my emotions take over and I take full responsibility for letting them down. It’s on me and it can’t happen.”
He said the weight of the at-bat, a nine-pitch battle with Duran, who threw a 164 mph fastball and a 90 mph curveball, drew him the most.
“Last night, we were both on the verge of facing probably the best closer in baseball. We put together a good at-bat, we were just practicing, but unfortunately we just couldn’t get it off and made a mistake,” Kelenic said.
“I think the biggest thing is that I love to win.
The foot injury came during Kerenich’s best season to date.
After a disastrous two years at the start of his Seattle career, the 24-year-old outfielder is batting .252/.320/.439, hitting 11 homers, and not hitting .200 in the previous two years, all of which are career-bests.
Kerenich had an impressive .982 OPS in March and April, but struggled in the months that followed, hitting .588 in June and .686 OPS in July.
But he’s been heating up lately, posting a .381 on-base percentage in his last six games.
Kelenic doesn’t need surgery, but it’s unclear when he’ll be back. Root Sports reported.
Director Scott Servai: ‘Nobody feels worse about this than Jared’ told the Seattle Times. “I think it’s a lesson for him and for all the players. Players get frustrated when they don’t get the results they want.
“But you have to be able to control your emotions. That’s part of being a professional. Last night he allowed himself to do his best and it affected us all.”
Kelenic was selected by the Mets in the first round of the 2018 draft and traded to Seattle.
He has 32 homers and 105 RBIs in 826 major league appearances with the Mariners.
