Luisangel Acuna isn’t the only former NY Mets prospect on the White Sox to watch

Thus far, the New York Mets haven't gotten a chance to reap any benefits from their Luis Robert Jr. trade. He's yet to take the field in spring training, and years of injury concerns certainly leave room for the star center fielder to disappoint yet another team in 2026.

Still, it's not like they mortgaged the future by tradiing away Luisangel Acuña (and Truman Pauley). Though Acuña is off to a blistering start this spring — he's hitting .357/.438/.643 (180 wRC+) in six Cactus League games thus far — the 23-year-old infielder is still a developmental project who has yet to sustain MLB success over a full season.

For Mets fans that like to pay attention to their old friends this time of year, you'll probably have noticed that another former top prospect within the organization is also fighting to make his way onto the Pale Hose's roster this spring: Jarred Kelenic. He's off to a far less inspiring start, posting a 56 wRC+ in 21 plate appearance, though the White Sox's need for impact hitters could give the 26-year-old enough leeway to make the Opening Day roster in Chicago.

Former Mets prospect Jarred Kelenic making last-ditch effort to save career with White Sox

It's been seven years since the Mets sent Kelenic (and four others) packing in the trade that brough Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano back to Queens, though it honestly feels like an eternity. The deal was seen as a massive overpay at the time because of Kelenic's status as one of the best prospects in baseball, and yet New York objectively won the deal despite Cano's struggles and year-long suspension.

This is the part where I'm supposed lament the loss of Edwin Diaz this offseason, but we'll keep the focus on Kelenic for now.

The young outfielder never found his footing in Seattle, and Mets fans will remember the Atlanta Braves taking a low-risk swing on him in an offseason trade prior to the 2024 campaign. However, Kelenic was even worse with them, posting a 47 wRC+ in 24 MLB games last year (and a 62 wRC+ in 400 Triple-A plate appearances).

With practically no recent track record of success to fall back on, Kelenic inked a minor-league pact with the White Sox in January that came with a non-roster invite to camp.

There was hope he'd be able to crack the Opening Day roster as a capable defender at all three outfield spots, but it's gone so poorly in spring training (he's striking out in one-third of his plate appearances) that it's hard to figure who he'd displace. The late-offseason signing of Austin Hays certainly didn't help matters.

Assuming he doesn't make the team, expect Kelenic to have to settle for a minor-league deal with some team around the league still willing to bet on the upside he showed seven years ago. Oh how the time flies.