NORTH PORT, Fla. — You actually wouldn’t know what Jarred Kelenic was hitting when you merely requested Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer in regards to the strides the outfielder has made whereas spending the previous few weeks acquainting himself with a brand new swing and setup.
“He appears to be like horny as all get out to me,” Seitzer stated. “I used to be like, ‘dadgummit, he’s able to go.’ He’s simply bought to let it go.”
Seitzer stated this a number of hours earlier than Kelenic impressed with a two-hit sport within the Braves’ 10-9 walk-off win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The Braves left fielder lined out to proper within the third inning, ended a 12-pitch at-bat with a single within the fifth after which lined one other single within the sixth.
So, why was Seitzer already feeling so optimistic about Kelenic, who has gone 5-for-45 with no extra-base hits and 12 strikeouts this spring?
“Due to the best way his swing appears to be like,” Seitzer stated. “He is urgent like a giant canine to attempt to get outcomes and he is simply placing loads of strain on himself. I instructed him, ‘My purpose is so that you can not be so laborious on your self by the point the season begins.’”
“I really feel like I am getting higher every single day,” Kelenic stated. “I’m getting my at-bats within the video games and getting some on the again fields. However I am nonetheless getting snug with a brand new group. It takes time. I am proper the place I have to be proper now.”
Kelenic got here to Spring Coaching with an opportunity to be the Braves’ on a regular basis left fielder. He’ll exit camp subsequent week, able to share the place with Adam Duvall, who signed a one-year, $3 million deal on Friday.
These previous few weeks didn’t go precisely how the Braves envisioned after they spent roughly $17 million to accumulate Kelenic from the Mariners in December, however with Opening Day per week away, the 24-year-old outfielder could be righting himself simply in time.
“I’ve been hitting some balls laborious and I’ve hit loads of balls proper at guys,” Kelenic stated. “So, in relation to outcomes, you possibly can’t learn into it an excessive amount of.”
When Spring Coaching started, Kelenic’s palms had been above his head when he got here to the plate. This led him to too usually drop his palms, which negatively impacted his timing. Together with his palms now lowered and his stance squared, the timing of his swing has been extra constant.
“Earlier than, he had a lot motion together with his palms, he was late, late, late,” Seitzer stated. “Now, he’s early and out entrance as a result of he’s shorter to the ball. That is what you need. He says, ‘I’m seeing the ball a lot longer and this feels so good.’ However he can’t wait on it. So, now it’s about getting the timing, which is able to come quicker when you’re not preventing it.”
Kelenic appeared to struggle himself too usually going again to 2021, when he made his MLB debut and ranked as the sport’s No. 4 prospect. He struggled within the Majors that yr and the season that adopted. After getting off to a superb begin final yr, he struggled and fractured his foot when he kicked a water cooler in frustration in July. He nonetheless hit 11 homers and produced a .746 OPS in 105 video games for Seattle.
Seitzer is aware of the pitfalls a participant can expertise when placing an excessive amount of strain on themselves. He earned an All-Star choice throughout his second MLB season in 1987, however later endured a number of tough seasons, throughout which he was launched a number of instances. The sport wasn’t enjoyable as a result of he was being too laborious on himself. However as soon as he stopped worrying a lot, he started producing once more and have become an All-Star once more in 1995.
“I bought launched proper after the [1993] All-Star break and I assumed it was over,” Seitzer stated. “I prayed to God and stated, ‘If you would like me to be a trash collector, I suppose I’m able to do it. However when you give me an opportunity to place a uniform on, I’m going to get pleasure from it prefer it’s the final day I’m going to put on it.’”
Kelenic’s mechanical adjustments might actually be useful, however he could must calm down somewhat extra to really maximize his large bodily abilities.
“He’s going to be okay as a result of he’s a tricky child,” Seitzer stated. “He’s not scared. There are such a lot of good issues about him. That is going to be enjoyable when it clicks.”
