Jarred Kelenic will not be on the Mariners’ Opening Day roster, a decision that had been alluded to many times by Mariners management over the five weeks of Spring Training — but the promising outfielder is coming sooner than later.
Seattle reassigned Kelenic to Minor League Spring Training on Friday, along with fellow star prospect Julio Rodríguez. Right-handers Brady Lail and Paul Sewald were also reassigned to the Minors. Right-hander Ljay Newsome, reliever Aaron Fletcher and outfielder Braden Bishop, meanwhile, were optioned to the alternate training site, which will be held at T-Mobile Park.
MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall prospect, Kelenic returned from a Grade 2 adductor strain near his right knee in just 12 days and quickly put the health of the leg to the test with impressive plays out of the batter’s box and in the outfield last Friday.
By remaining in Arizona instead of being optioned to the alternate training site, Kelenic will be able to play in competitive games against opposing teams, though those games won’t begin for at least two weeks until after the big leaguers depart after the Cactus League finale on Monday.
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