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Miami Marlins Draft Prospect: Outfielder Jarred Kelenic

By Hector Lozada

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Overall: 55

Kelenic is a truly special player and he has a chance to be the best prep bat in this entire draft. Defensively, he plays in the middle of the diamond (CF) which is a  premium defensive position.

Offensively, he is one of the best pure hitters in the entire draft. While others may have more power, his pure hitting ability is like none other. If Kelenic is on the board when it is time for the Miami Marlins to pick, he is a guy that they should seriously consider taking.

In his swing, I see a lot of prime Jacoby Ellsbury with the way that Kelenic is able to cover the zone with a flat bat. While Ellsbury’s swing may line up with Kelenic’s a bit, he might not be the best comparison due to the differences in the way the way they play the game. The biggest difference would be that Kelenic will not have prime Ellsbury’s base stealing ability.

Comparison

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MLB.com compares Kelenic to the former 1997 World Series Champion, Mark Kotsay. While there is a resemblance between Kelenic’s game to that of Kotsay and Ellsbury, I think that Kelenic has a chance to have more power than either of those two guys.

Overall, Kelenic has the ability to be a special talent in the future. He has a very solid skill set across the board as there is not one area of the game that is holding him back. Kelenic should be a starting outfielder at the major league level if all goes right in his development.

MLB Comparison: Mark Kotsay

21 May 1998: Mark Kotsay #7 of the Florida Marlins in action during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
21 May 1998: Mark Kotsay #7 of the Florida Marlins in action during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

Next: Draft Prospect Connor Scott

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