Kelenic has been bad during Spring Training, but it isn't time to panic
As of the time of this writing, Jarred Kelenic has had 24 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. He's reached base four times, once on a single, and three times on free passes. This brings his slashline to .048/.167/.048.
Obviously, this is quite bad but it doesn't mean that the Kelenic trade was a huge mistake or that the batting stance changes should immediately be discarded.
In fact, Kelenic didn't even start the spring with the lowered hands approach. In the Braves first televised game, his stance looked more like his 2023 stance than it did on Thursday.
Interestingly, this is an adjustment he made after ST games started.
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) March 7, 2024
This was Kelenic on Februrary 28. pic.twitter.com/LxgYING8ck
The new Brave isn't the only Brave to get off to a slow start either. All-Star Ozzie Albies is currently slashing .071/.133/.071 and no one is (or should be) ringing the alarm bells on him.
Kelenic is currently in an adjustment period, getting used to the stance, and will likely continue to tinker throughout the exhibition matches until he and the Braves get him comfortable with the approach.
It is important to note that the young outfielder has tinkered with his stance since reaching the majors. This clip shows the myriad of stances and swings Kelenic had in 2022, where he struggled the entirety of the season.
The many swings of Jarred Kelenic over the course of the 2022 season. pic.twitter.com/NYYHa43yXq
— Gravel (@Gravel_sense) September 23, 2022
The jury's still out on whether these changes will finally unlock the success fans have expected from Jarred Kelenic, but Braves track record with this type of adjustment is promising, even if the Spring Training results haven't been.