Rangers Give Jarred Kelenic Another Opportunity After Sending Josh Smith to Triple-A
The Texas Rangers made a surprising roster adjustment on Friday, deciding to send one of their regular contributors to the minor leagues while giving a former top prospect another chance to revive his major league career.
The organization announced that infielder Josh Smith has been optioned to Triple-A, ending his time on the major league roster for now. Smith played an important role during Texas’ 2023 World Series championship run and became a valuable piece of the club’s lineup. However, his offensive struggles throughout the 2026 season ultimately led the Rangers to make a change.
Taking Smith’s spot is outfielder Jarred Kelenic, a player once regarded as one of baseball’s brightest young talents. Although Kelenic has yet to establish himself as a consistent major league performer, the Rangers are hoping a recent hot streak in the minors could help unlock the potential that made him a highly touted prospect.
At 26 years old, Kelenic still has plenty of time to reshape the narrative surrounding his career. He entered professional baseball with enormous expectations after being selected in the first round of the MLB Draft and was viewed as a future cornerstone player. However, translating that potential into sustained major league success has proven difficult.
Since making his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2021, Kelenic has struggled to produce at the level many anticipated. Over parts of several seasons in the majors, including time with the Atlanta Braves, he has posted a .656 OPS, a figure that falls well below the production expected from an everyday outfielder.
During the offseason, Kelenic signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in hopes of earning another opportunity. His performance there, however, did little to boost his stock. In 19 games, he batted .226 with a .305 on-base percentage and a .321 slugging percentage. He managed just one home run while striking out 20 times in 59 plate appearances.
The overall numbers paint the picture of a player still searching for consistency. Through 426 career major league games, Kelenic owns an 84 OPS+, meaning his offensive production has been approximately 16 percent below the league average. While flashes of talent have occasionally appeared, sustained success has remained elusive.
Despite those struggles, Texas saw enough potential to take a chance on him. The Rangers signed Kelenic to a minor league deal in early June, hoping a change of scenery might help him regain confidence and rediscover the skills that once made him one of baseball’s top prospects.
So far, the early returns have been encouraging. During his brief stint at Triple-A, Kelenic performed exceptionally well, hitting .340 with three home runs in just 13 games. His strong production at the plate appears to have convinced the Rangers that he deserves an opportunity at the major league level.
Now, Kelenic will get another chance to prove he belongs in the big leagues. As the Rangers continue searching for offensive consistency, they are betting that the former first-round pick can provide a spark and finally begin delivering on the promise that made him one of baseball’s most highly regarded young players.
Leave a Reply