Kelenic cleared waivers and opted to become a free agent Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Kelenic was DFA'd by the White Sox on Monday and wasn't picked up off waivers. Rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors, the veteran outfielder has exercised his right to become a free agent. Kelenic posted a modest .226/.305/.321 slash line with one home run, four RBI and a 6:20 BB:K over 59 plate appearances for Chicago before being let go.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Removed from 40-man roster
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The White Sox designated Kelenic for assignment Monday.
Kelenic got some regular run in right field with the White Sox but managed just a .226/.305/.321 batting line with a 33.9 percent strikeout rate over 19 contests. His spot on the 26-man and 40-man rosters is being absorbed by Rikuu Nishida.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Taking seat against southpaw
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Kelenic is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
The Giants are sending southpaw Robbie Ray to the hill for the series finale, so the left-handed-hitting Kelenic will head to the bench. Derek Hill will replace Kelenic in right field and will bat seventh.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Earning consistent playing time
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Kelenic went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored Saturday against the Giants.
Kelenic started for the 16th time in the White Sox's last 19 games and returned to the lineup after a one-game absence caused by a minor back issue. He led off the fifth inning with a double and came around to score, but he was ultimately pulled in the seventh inning when a lefty reliever entered the game. Kelenic has had spurts of production in his return to the majors, but he has also struck out at a 50 percent rate across his last 10 contests.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Back in action
Rotowire
Kelenic (back) is starting in right field and batting sixth Saturday against the Giants.
He was scratched from Friday's lineup with a lower-back contusion but is back in action against righty Adrian Houser. Kelenic is hitting .179 with one home run and 15 strikeouts in his last 10 games.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Scratched Friday
Rotowire
Kelenic was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants with a lower-back contusion, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Kelenic has logged a base hit in each of his last two games, but he'll take a seat Friday to allow his back to heal. Derek Hill will fill in as Chicago's right fielder and bat ninth.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Drives in two runs Wednesday
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Kelenic went 2-for-3 with a two-run double, a walk and a run scored during the White Sox's 6-5 win over the Royals on Wednesday.
Kelenic broke the 3-3 tie in the fifth inning after smacking a double to right field that brought both Andrew Benintendi and Colson Montgomery home. It was the second multi-hit game of the season for Kelenic, who should continue to see more starts in the outfield as long as both Austin Hays (calf) and Everson Pereira (pectoral) are on the 10-day injured list.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Making third straight start
Rotowire
Kelenic will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Angels.
Kelenic didn't start in either of the White Sox's first two games following his promotion from Triple-A Charlotte last Wednesday, but he'll crack the lineup Monday for a third straight contest. All of those starts have come against right-handed pitching, and Kelenic could be tasked with handling a strong-side platoon role in the corner outfield while Everson Pereira (pectoral) and Austin Hays (calf) are on the shelf. The 26-year-old hasn't provided much reason to get excited about his fantasy prospects just yet, going 1-for-6 with a walk and a strikeout through his first three games with Chicago after turning in an .810 OPS with six home runs and seven stolen bases but striking out at a bloated 28.8 percent clip in 26 Triple-A contests.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Back in majors with White Sox
Rotowire
The White Sox selected Kelenic's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Kelenic was batting .202 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate at Charlotte, but he had been swinging a hot bat of late with five home runs across his last 10 contests. The 26-year-old will likely operate as a reserve outfielder for Chicago.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Won't make Opening Day roster
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Kelenic was informed Friday that he wouldn't be part of the White Sox' Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Kelenic will remain in big-league camp, but won't be part of the 26-man roster when Opening Day rolls around. The veteran was brought on as a non-roster invitee after a disappointing 2025 season with Atlanta and couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, going 7-for-39 (.179) in spring training before the decision was made to leave him off the roster.
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White Sox's Jarred Kelenic: Signs with White Sox as NRI
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The White Sox signed Kelenic to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Kelenic's 2025 season was his worst one yet, as he slashed only .167/.231/.300 in 24 games for Atlanta and just .213/.286/.309 across 95 contests with Triple-A Gwinnett. The former top prospect is still just 26, and he's heading to an organization with a clear opening in right field. Still, the odds are long that he will crack the Opening Day roster and make an impact with the big club.
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Jarred Kelenic: Hits free agency
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Kelenic elected to become a free agent Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Kelenic has refused Atlanta's outright assignment, choosing to become a free agent instead. The former top prospect slashed only .222/.279/.381 during his two seasons in Atlanta and hit just .167/.231/.300 in 24 games with Triple-A Gwinnett in 2025. Kelenic is still just 26, so he'll get another chance elsewhere, but it's unlikely he'll be guaranteed a regular role in 2026.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Optioned back to minors
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Atlanta optioned Kelenic to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Kelenic had been recalled last week but didn't receive a single plate appearance during his stint with the big club. He's being replaced on the 26-man roster by Jonathan Ornelas, who was recalled from Gwinnett.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Recalled from Triple-A
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Atlanta recalled Kelenic from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Kelenic will join Atlanta as a replacement on the active roster for the injured Ronald Acuna (Achilles) and could see plenty of action in right field while Acuna recuperates. The 26-year-old Kelenic was sent down to Gwinnett in late April after slashing .167/.231/.300 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate, and he hasn't performed much better at Gwinnett, hitting only .217/.289/.322 over 305 plate appearances.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sent down to Triple-A
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Atlanta optioned Kelenic to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Even with Atlanta missing Ronald Acuna (knee) and Jurickson Profar (suspension), Kelenic finds himself the odd man out in the club's outfield mix. He has slashed only .167/.231/.300 with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate this season and has done very little since arriving in Atlanta last season outside of one big month last June when he had a .900 OPS. Kelenic is still just 25 but is sitting on a career .658 OPS and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 406 major-league games.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Not starting Friday
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Kelenic isn't in the lineup for Atlanta's game against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Kelenic will take a seat Friday after going 4-for-19 with a homer, three runs scored and six strikeouts over his last six games. His absence will clear a spot in right field for Eli White to pick up a start and bat eighth.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: On bench against lefty
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Kelenic is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
The left-handed-hitting Kelenic will retreat to the bench while the Blue Jays send southpaw Easton Lucas to the hill for the series opener. Stuart Fairchild will pick up a start in right field in place of Kelenic.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Kelenic isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo will toe the slab for Philadelphia on Thursday, so the lefty-hitting Kelenic will begin the game on the bench. While he rests, Bryan De La Cruz, Michael Harris and Stuart Fairchild will start across the outfield for Atlanta.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Socks first homer of 2025
Rotowire
Kelenic went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.
The 25-year-old took Dylan Cease deep to lead off the top of the fifth inning and tie the game at 3-3. It was Kelenic's first hit of the season after an 0-for-4 showing in an Opening Day loss. Atlanta is counting on Kelenic to fill a strong-side platoon role in right field while waiting for Ronald Acuna (knee) to return, but he's hit ninth in both games so far and his fantasy utility is limited to deep mixed and NL-only formats.
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Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Competing for right field reps
Rotowire
Kelenic is slated to compete for playing time in right field until Ronald Acuna (knee) returns, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Newly signed Jurickson Profar is slated for everyday playing time in left field, which leaves Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz in a likely platoon in right field for the first month or so of the season while Acuna is out. Once Acuna returns, Kelenic could be pegged for a fourth outfielder role. The former top prospect slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta, sagging to a .595 OPS in the second half.
