Jarred Kelenic flourishes as Braves’ replacement for Ronald Acuña Jr. as leadoff hitter

By RONALD BLUM, Associated Press

NEW YORK — Jarred Kelenic started hitting at the top of the Atlanta Braves’ batting order.

Recently moved on to replace injured star Ronald Acuña Jr., Kelenic homered and drove in two runs in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the New York Yankees.

Kelenic is hitting .324 with three homers and six RBIs in eight games since taking over the top spot.

“Guys see it as an opportunity and some guys respond to opportunities that present themselves,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Kelenic is hitting .270 with seven homers and 21 RBIs total this year. He started 22 matches in the No. 9 hole, 15 in the eighth and nine in the seventh.

“I just try to individualize each hitter and let the game tell me what I’m trying to do,” Kelenic said.

In his first season with the Braves at age 24, the outfielder was the Mets’ sixth overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft. He was dealt in December to Seattle as part of the package that brought Edwin Díaz and outfielder closer second baseman Robinson Canó of New York.

Kelenic struck. 141 as a rookie with the Mariners in 2021 and .141 the following year, then hit .253 last season with 11 homers and 49 RBIs. He became so frustrated during a midseason slump that he kicked a water fountain and broke a bone in his left foot, forcing him to be benched. gap between July 19 and September 11. He was traded to the Braves in December after hitting .204 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs in 252 games for Seattle.

He spent most of his time against right-handed pitchers, hitting .275 against them in 160 at-bats compared to .250 against lefties in 36 at-bats. He gave the Braves the lead with a third-inning homer off Nestor Cortes and added a sacrifice fly in a two-run fifth.

It was ample support for Max Fried, who allowed one run in six innings and improved to 4-1 in his last six starts.

“Playing behind him makes it pretty easy because you don’t have to do much,” Kelenic said. “Sometimes when I sit there I wonder if I should face him, what I would do. He would come at you from so many sides of the board – his balls move so much.

Kelenic settled in as the Braves’ platoon left fielder, but moved to center after Michael Harris II strained his left hamstring on June 13. His change in the batting order and defensive alignment coincided with a turnaround by the Braves, who have won eight of 10 after a five-game losing streak.

Atlanta has won two of three against the Yankees after taking two of three from Tampa Bay and sweeping Detroit.

“It’s a big series,” Snitker said. “We play more according to our abilities. Honestly, I still don’t think we’re firing on all cylinders.