Former NY Mets prospect we panicked over trading remains lost in AAA

Back in December of 2019, New York Mets fans were furious about a recent transaction. Newly hired General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen had pulled off the first big move of his tenure, acquiring Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners. While fans were happy to acquire an all-star closer in Diaz, the package they gave up made the trade look like a massive overpay. They gave up Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn, and Jarred Kelenic.

Both Kelenic and Dunn were ranked among the best prospects in the Mets system, but Kelenic was the one that hurt. In his first season in the Seattle system, he put in a 2019 season that made him one of the best prospects in baseball. In 117 games across Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, he posted a slash line of .291/.364/.540, accompanied by 23 home runs and 68 RBIs. After the Pandemic canceled the 2020 season, he came back stronger in 2021, recording a 1.019 OPS in 143 games in Triple-A. It seemed the Mets had let a future superstar go for a washed-up second baseman and a streaky closer.

However, since making the majors, Kelenic has never been able to find success. In five big league seasons, he has slashed .211/.282/.376 with 49 home runs, 156 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 84. He also had an abysmal start to 2025, which led the Braves to send him down to Triple-A, where he has been unable to prove he deserves another chance. It's starting to look like the Mets dodged a bullet moving on from Kelenic.

Jarred Kelenic is a prime example why prospects are lottery tickets

After his slow start, Kelenic was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. In 91 games for the Stripers, he has posted a .220/.293/.320 batting line with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs. These numbers would be concerning on their own, but they're even worse when you look at the previous results. This is not the first time that Kelenic has been sent down to the minors during the season. However, every time he was sent to Triple-A, he would put up numbers similar to those he had when he was a prospect. It was a sign he still could live up to his potential.

But his performance in Triple-A should give teams pause. While Kelenic is no superstar, you could've made the argument that he was a quad-A player. A perfect depth player in your organization that can be serviceable off the bench. But playing this badly as a 25-year-old in the minors might be the final nail in Kelenic's career. What team is going to take a chance on a player who can barely hit his weight at the lower levels?

Kelenic's career is the best example of why a team should not be afraid to move highly regarded prospects. Every year, we hear stories about a team that was not willing to make a move because it involved giving up a big-name prospect. They don't want to give up the next big superstar, especially when they have them for cheap. But at the end of the day, general managers should focus on getting the roster the best it can be for the upcoming season, not two to three years down the road.

Now is Kelenic's struggles a justification for selling the whole farm? No, but it's a reminder that minor league success doesn't necessarily translate to success in the majors.