Jarred Kelenic/Photo by Dan Napper, Chicago Scouts Association
The New York Mets have drafted prep outfielder Jarred Kelenic from Waukesha (Wis.) West High School with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Kelenic was the only outfielder in the high school class to unanimously make the first team in Baseball America’s Preseason All-America vote, as decided on by major scouting directors. He is widely regarded as the top prep bat in the 2018 draft.
He was the leading hitter on the U.S. national 18-and-under team as a junior in 2016 and helped the squad win a gold medal for the second straight summer in 2017. He becomes the first ever Wisconsin product to be selected in the top 10.
MLB.com had Kelenic ranked as their No. 10 prospect in the draft, Baseball America had him at No. 12 and Keith Law was the high man on the young left-handed hitter at No. 6.
Law’s thoughts on the athletic outfielder, ”Kelenic is the one prep position player who has separated himself from the pack over the past 10 months, showing a broad mix of tools and several plus, including power, speed and arm strength.’
Kelenic, 18, was born July 16, 1999 and is 6’1” and 196 pounds.
Perfect Game is high on the athletic ability of the center fielder, ”he glides to balls in the outfield, gets good reads and is always moving in the right direction off the crack of the bat. Kelenic has run the 60-yard dash in the 6.50-6.60 second range in the past and can stretch extra-base hits on the basepaths.”
The last time the Mets had a pick in the Top 10 they selected outfielder Michael Conforto in 2014 from Oregon State.
