GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox nonroster invitee Jarred Kelenic has had some positive results recently in Cactus League games. But the outfielder knows there’s more than one way to dissect an at-bat.
“I really, as hard as it is, try to stay away from the results,” Kelenic said on Friday. “Results give confidence to anybody, that’s kind of a given. But I’ve hit a lot of balls hard in play that have been outs.
“I take those just as much as I take the balls hit in the gap. I’m definitely feeling good.”
That mindset has been paying off at camp as the Waukesha, Wis., native continues to compete for a roster spot.
“I’d say (this is) the most confident it’s been in a long time,” Kelenic said of his swing. “I’m getting to pitches I usually do. I’m still not fully there, but it’s still early in spring. I feel like I’m really getting the barrel to the inside pitch, staying inside of it. Not rolling over. That’s a good sign. It’s probably the best I’ve felt.
“It’s more the mental more than anything, just having that confidence. Because at the end of the day, the game is quick. If you’re not confident, that’s the difference between a foul ball and a ball hit in the gap.”
Atlanta Braves’ Jarred Kelenic hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Kelenic, 26, has been hitting balls out of the park recently. He is one of five Sox with two home runs entering Monday.
He hit a three-run home run on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz. He had a solo home run as part of a two-hit game on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Camelback Ranch.
The second hit on Sunday got away from the right fielder and Kelenic kept running. When the Royals made another error on the relay throw to third base, Kelenic headed home for the little league home run.
Overall, Kelenic entered Monday 6-for-23 (a .261 average) with one double, two home runs, five RBIs, eight strikeouts and one walk in eight Cactus League games.
“The things we highlighted with him with his athleticism, his defensive ability, the pop and what he can do at the plate — it’s all showing up now,” manager Will Venable said on Monday. “It’s really about the way he’s gone about his business and staying online and staying focused on the things that matter and that he can control. We’re seeing the results when he’s able to do that.”
Kelenic agreed to a minor-league deal with the Sox in the offseason.
A first-round draft pick by the New York Mets in 2018, Kelenic has a career .211/.282/.376 slash line with 49 home runs, 156 RBIs and 130 walks during parts of five seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2021-23) and Atlanta Braves (2024-25).
Kelenic played in a career-high 131 games for the Braves in 2024. He spent the bulk of 2025 at Triple-A Gwinnett (95 games), and also hit .167 with two home runs and two RBIs in 24 games with the Braves.
Kelenic used some of the ups and downs as an opportunity.
“That has ultimately made me into who I am today, just from an approach standpoint, from the outlook of my own self,” he said. “I can’t just generalize it into one thing, but just trying to take those times that weren’t so great and turn them into a learning opportunity, because that’s the only way you’re going to get better.
“The game’s hard, the game sucks sometimes, it will beat you down. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to stick to your strengths and superpowers and ride with those. And have as much confidence as you can in yourself, even in a game where you’re set up to fail.”
Kelenic is trying to be a factor in an outfield mix that features Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin and Luisangel Acuña. Everson Pereira, Derek Hill and Tristan Peters are also among the options.
“He keeps doing what he’s doing, it’s going to make us have some tough decisions here,” Venable said of Kelenic. “That’s what we want. We’ve given these guys transparency that there is a path for a lot of these guys. They’re going to make it hard for us, and that’s what we want.
“That means we’re in a good spot when we have these tough decisions to make.”
Sox make 3 roster moves
Chicago White Sox pitcher Wikelman González throws during the third inning of a spring training game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Sox optioned pitchers Wikelman González and David Sandlin and infielder Tanner Murray to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.
“In the case of Tanner Murray, really liked what he did,” Venable said. “Defensive versatility. He put some charges into some balls and really did a nice job at the plate. He’s still somebody that we value and expect him to come help us. We’ve got other guys ahead of him at this point right now.
“Wikelman is still very much a work in progress. We really like him, too. He’s such a hard worker and a great guy in the clubhouse. He’s got to throw more strikes and learn how to be more aggressive in the zone. It’s something he knows and trying very hard, but he needs to continue to progress in that regard.”
Venable said Sandlin “has been behind the eight ball a little bit as far as his buildup (a back issue early, more recently elbow soreness). We want to make sure he has everything he needs to build up. We expect him to be an option for us at some point as well.”
With the moves, the Sox have 52 players remaining in camp: 26 pitchers, five catchers, 10 infielders and 11 outfielders.