Jarred Kelenic didn’t have the easiest first couple years to begin his MLB career. That was hardly an accident. Yes, his arrival was the kind that comes with fanfare, befitting the debut of a consensus top-three prospect. But although Mariner fans salivated at his potential success, opponents anticipated it with concern. So they hatched a plan.
Over his first two years, opposing managers brought in lefty relievers to face Kelenic in 94 of his 558 plate appearances. That’s 16.8% of the time. For context, league-wide, lefty hitters faced same-handed relievers in just 10.2% of their PAs over that period.