Jarred Kelenic’s Citi Field debut has been a long time coming.
The Mets’ first-round pick in 2018, and sixth pick overall, was back at the ballpark in Queens with the Braves on Friday for the first time since he was a prospect just out of high school.
At the time, he expected Citi Field to be his future home.
“I definitely thought I’d be playing here [with the Mets],’’ Kelenic said before the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Braves on Friday night. “I never thought I’d get traded. It was in my head that this place was home.’’
But about six months after the Mets drafted him, Kelenic was traded to the Mariners as part of the deal that brought Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to Queens.
Before he got dealt, Kelenic got to make that one trip to Citi Field as part of what he called a “rookie camp” for young prospects.
He came to Citi Field with fellow prospects Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos, among others.
His journey back has been circuitous.
Because of an injury last season and a demotion in 2022, Kelenic missed Seattle’s trips to Citi Field.
And on Friday, he wasn’t in the lineup for Atlanta against the left-handed Jose Quintana, so he will have to wait at least one more day before he plays in front of the crowd at Citi Field.
“They’ll probably just boo me,” Kelenic said. “And if that happens, what am I going to do?”
Following a trade from Seattle to Atlanta last offseason, Kelenic has been solid, and the 24-year-old has been the Braves regular left fielder against righty starters.
The Mets have right-handers Christian Scott and Luis Severino going Saturday and Sunday, so Kelenic figures to be in there.
Kelenic knows he’s going to face the Mets a lot.
Their first meeting came in Atlanta last month.
Now that he’s returned, Kelenic said, “I’ve got no hard feelings. I’m trying to treat this as another series and get some Ws. I’m excited to go toe-to-toe with these guys.”
