An inside look at what drew outfielder Jarred Kelenic to Chicago and why the White Sox targeted him this offseason.
The Chicago White Sox offseason has been defined by the team taking clear, intentional shots at upside.
When you’re in the position the White Sox currently occupy—a rebuilding club without immediate pressure to contend—it makes sense to embrace risk and hope to hit on a few lottery tickets. That approach only works, however, if you have a front office confident in its pro scouting: evaluators capable of identifying traits that can be molded into MLB production and that are being undervalued elsewhere across the league.
The more tickets you buy, of course, the better your chances of hitting the jackpot.
And the South Siders have already purchased their fair share.
Of all the high-upside acquisitions the White Sox have made this offseason, none has generated more attention—or more optimism among fans—than outfielder Jarred Kelenic.
Jarred Kelenic's fit in Chicago
Kelenic, a Wisconsin native and former first-round pick, was once regarded as the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball. Now 26 years old and still searching for consistency at the big-league level—owning a .658 OPS across 407 career games—he finds himself at a career crossroads.
As he enters his athletic prime, Kelenic is looking for a reset. That search led him to the South Side of Chicago, a place he told White Sox media over Zoom on Wednesday that he hopes to call home.
So why did Kelenic choose the White Sox? And what did Chicago identify in his skillset that makes him such an intriguing reclamation project?
Part of the appeal starts with geography. “Chicago is my favorite city that I have ever played in,” Kelenic said during the Zoom call. “So, to be able to potentially call that home, I’m looking forward to that.” (via Scott Merkin)
But the fit goes well beyond the city itself.
The White Sox offer Kelenic a clear path to playing time—at least for now. Barring another free-agent addition, right field remains wide open. Kelenic is competing with players like Dustin Harris, Tristan Peters, and Everson Pereira, and the depth chart lines are blurred.
Even if Chicago adds another veteran outfielder, it seems unlikely that it would be a high-end acquisition that completely blocks Kelenic’s opportunity.
Beyond playing time, there’s something just as important for a player trying to revive his career: a clear development plan.
Kelenic has been candid about his own shortcomings at the plate, and it’s evident that both he and the White Sox see similar areas for improvement.
“I have a tendency to get stuck back, and my posture can be a little leaned back,” Kelenic said. “When your posture is back, it takes a while for your barrel to get in the zone. It actually goes in and out of the zone pretty fast, so it doesn’t work. It can be tough dealing with change of speed when pitchers are adding and subtracting.” (via Chicago Sun-Times)
“Hearing [the White Sox] talk about that, hearing them acknowledge the type of player I am, was reassuring,” he added. “And just the clear, crystal plan they had for how they wanted to attack it—it was really motivating for me.” (via Chicago Sun-Times)
What the White Sox see in Kelenic
If you want to win over a free agent, help them understand themselves better. That’s a strong showing from Chris Getz and his staff—and likely why early reports suggest the organization is particularly bullish on Kelenic despite his recent MLB struggles.
Beyond posture adjustments—which could help his barrel stay in the hitting zone longer, get the bat to the ball quicker, and reduce his near league-worst whiff rate—there’s another key trait working in his favor: bat speed.
Kelenic’s average bat speed of 73.4 mph is well above league average, and he’s hovered near that mark throughout his career. That’s a sustainable power foundation, one capable of producing consistent extra-base damage if his mechanics are dialed in.
All things considered, it’s a clean fit for both sides. The White Sox are offering Jarred Kelenic a real runway of opportunity this spring—and they appear to have a strong understanding of both the player he is now and the player he still has a chance to become.