In Waukesha, Wisconsin, Kelenic went to Waukesha West High School. He was awarded MVP of the U-18 USA Baseball team that took home the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 2016.[2][3][4] He committed to play baseball at the University of Louisville during his college career.[5]
Kelenic took part in the Marlins Park High School Home Run Derby in July 2017.[6] He participated in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game later that month.[7] In 2017, he participated for Team USA once more and took home the gold medal for the second time in a row.
One of the best prospects for the 2018 Major League Baseball draft was Kelenic.[8][9] The New York Mets selected him sixth overall in the draft, and he agreed to a $4.5 million contract.[10] Kelenic was sent to the Rookie League Gulf Coast League Mets[11] upon signing a contract with the Mets. In July, he was promoted to the Rookie League Kingsport Mets of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He slashed.286/.371/.468 with six home runs, 42 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 56 games between the two clubs.[12]
Robinson Canó, Edwin Díaz, and $20 million were exchanged for Kelenic, Jay Bruce, Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn, and Anthony Swarzak by the Mets from the Seattle Mariners on December 3, 2018.[13] He started the 2019 season with the South Atlantic League’s Single-A West Virginia Power.[14] In May, Kelenic received a promotion to the High-A California League’s Modesto Nuts.[15] Kelenic received a spot in the All-Star Futures Game for 2019.[16] He received a promotion to the Double-A Texas League’s Arkansas Travelers in August.[17] He slashed.291/.364/.540 over 117 games between the three organizations, totaling twenty stolen bases, 68 RBIs, and 23 home runs.[18] After the season, he was chosen to play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.[19] Kelenic didn’t show up in any
According to Kelenic’s statement from February 2021, the Mariners kept him in the minor levels for the 2020 season because he declined to sign an extension. Following the internet release of a video featuring Mariners CEO Kevin Mather speaking to a rotary club, he made these remarks. According to Mather, Kelenic and Logan Gilbert, a fellow Mariners prospect, will begin the 2021 season in the minor leagues, where they will remain under team control for an additional year before to their free agency.[23] Following the public release of his remarks, Kelenic claimed that the Mariners had extended his contract and repeatedly informed him that, had he accepted, he would have played for the major league team in 2020. Rather, Kelenic played the 2020 campaign at the team’s backup