With the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, the New York Mets have selected Jarred Kelenic, an outfielder from Waukesha West High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Kelenic has the potential to be the best all-around player in this draft as, like Jonathan India a pick before, there isn’t a huge negative on his game. Kelenic was considered a major wild card coming into the first round, but has found a home in the Big Apple.
Kelenic’s weakest part of his game is likely his power, which is only average at this point in time. However, he seems to excel getting on base and is a plus outfielder with a cannon of an arm. He doesn’t have the best range, but it hasn’t seemed to matter so far in Kelenic’s baseball career.
The @Mets first-round pick (No. 6 overall), Jared Kelenic, made this incredible catch in the @PGAllAmerican Classic! PG Profile: https://t.co/DNrO3W5KiZ pic.twitter.com/96eoCCo5M0
— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) June 4, 2018
While he isn’t a college player, Kelenic has played on the international circuit for the USA U18 team. He chose to go the prep baseball route instead of playing for his high school team during the 2018 season.
Kelenic is certainly going to be the top prospect in the depleted Mets farm system, but given the state of that farm system, that isn’t saying much. Kelenic may sneak in to the top-100 prospects, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he finds himself on the outside looking in come the first update.