Olivia Sayer
After a slow start to Spring Training, Jarred Kelenic’s bat is starting to heat up. (Photo courtesy/MLB)
Jarred Kelenic recorded one hit in Atlanta’s 5-2 victory over the Yankees Thursday afternoon at CoolToday park. The Braves open their season in Philadelphia in exactly one week.
Atlanta traded for Kelenic in early December, sending a pair of pitching prospects to Seattle in exchange for him and two other players. The left-handed outfielder has struggled heavily, beginning Spring Training with three hits in 42 plate appearances.
In the past couple of games, he doubled that number with two knocks on Wednesday and an additional hit against the Yankees.
“For him, there’s a lot of different moves going on, simplifying [the] approach more than what he was doing when he got here,” hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said. “Now, it’s a matter of him getting his timing.”
Kelenic’s lone hit Thursday came in the bottom of the fifth inning, when he sent the first pitch he saw to the left field wall for a triple.
One batter later, reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. brought Kelenic home with a line drive to center field. The single gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead and sent Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortez to the showers.
On the mound, Charlie Morton pitched five innings of two-run ball, in likely his penultimate start before Opening Day. A bases loaded hit by pitch plated one for the Yankees in the top of the fourth, while a single in the top of the fifth scored the other.
The Braves have five more Spring Training games before beginning their season March 28 in Philadelphia. Opening Day starter Spencer Strider was scheduled to pitch his final preseason game tomorrow, but the start was pushed back to Saturday due to expected rain.