CHICAGO — The constant tension — a mixture of pressure from unmet expectations and the fierce intensity to produce results — that seemingly followed Jarred Kelenic any time he stepped on a baseball field was noticeably missing.

As he went through the early workouts at Rate Field with his White Sox teammates last week, there was a lightness to Kelenic. He didn’t overreact to a mishit in batting practice or seem irritated when a ball wasn’t crushed over the fence. He smiled often and seemed to enjoy the work, instead of attacking it like an enemy that needed to be punished. 

“I’m in a really good place now,” he said. “’I’ve done a ton of work on my personal stuff, my personal life. I’m just trying to come out here and enjoy it and trying to be as consistent as possible with it. That’s the biggest thing.”

In years past, the idea of playing the Mariners — the team that traded him away — and competing against former teammates would’ve only ratcheted up that tension. In his mind, he would’ve had to show them what they gave up on and show them he was better than he’s been.

Instead, it was hugs and smiles and catch-up conversations with players, coaches and the training staff. 

“It’s been a long time,” he said. “It was fun to see everyone. It was definitely a good feeling.”

The changes in Kelenic were noticeable to his former teammate and coaches. They felt that tension in the past. They are happy to see he’s found a little peace to go with the passion that he brought to the field.

“It was great to see him and just kind of connect with him,” manager Dan Wilson said. “He had a big smile on his face. And it does seem like he’s in a pretty good spot mentally. Sometimes it comes with age. He does seem looser.”

Kelenic’s MLB career has not lived up to the hype and expectations placed upon him after being acquired by the Mariners prior to the 2019 season. He was the focal point of a player return in a trade that sent Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to the Mets. 

A first-round pick in the 2018 draft (No. 6 overall) by the Mets, Kelenic rocketed up the prospect charts with Seattle, ascending as high as No. 4 in all of baseball going into the 2021 season.

At age 21, he made his MLB debut on May 13 of that year after only six minor-league games. 

Like many players he struggled to adjust to competition at baseball’s highest level. The game became more difficult than anything he had experienced in his baseball career. He couldn’t process the failure and allowed it to eat at him, leading to more struggles. 

Over parts of the next three seasons, he bounced between Triple-A and the big leagues. He showed signs of being the player he wanted to be, but that burning anger when he failed couldn’t be processed properly. He seethed at strikeouts and raged at missed opportunities. That rage hit its nadir on July 19, 2023, when he kicked a water cooler out of frustration, fracturing his left foot, after striking out in a game at T-Mobile Park. 

“I just feel terrible,” he said tearfully the next day. “Especially for the guys. I just let the emotions get the best of me, and I just let them down. I take full responsibility for it. It’s on me. That just can’t happen.”

He looks back at that young kid and just shakes his head: Why he did do those things?

“I’m a lot different,” he said. 

The Mariners traded Kelenic to the Braves along with Marco Gonzales and Evan White, or more specifically their guaranteed contracts, after the 2023 season as part of reworking of their roster to free up payroll flexibility. 

Similar to his time with the Mariners, he couldn’t quite find the consistency he desired. It wasn’t from a lack of work. 

Mariners hitting coach Kevin Seitzer held the same job with the Braves when Kelenic was acquired, and the two spent hours together in the batting cage. 

They shared a long hug and conversation prior to the series opener in Chicago. 

“The conversation was great,” Seitzer said. “He’s like a son to me. We were extremely tight in Atlanta when he was there. I just love the kid to death. I just hope he absolutely goes off the rest of his career, well not against us, when we don’t play him. But I want that kid to have a great rest of his career.”

Seitzer’s easy going and Southern sweet-tea personality was a good fit for Kelenic’s intensity. 

“He’s one of the best I’ve worked with,” Kelenic said. “He really helped me. He was there for me. We spent a lot of time in the cage in Atlanta.”

Seitzer fought the same battles as Mariners hitting coaches when it came to trying to convince Kelenic to focus more on the process and less on the results, particularly the negative ones.

“That was the thing I wanted most, just trying to get him over the hump to where he could control himself emotionally,” Seitzer said. ”He battled it. He’s made some big strides over the last year. It sounds like he’s in a great place.”

Seitzer could feel it in the conversation. 

“He said some things and I’m like: ‘Do you have any idea how much money I’d have given to hear those words come out of your mouth when we were together,’” Seitzer said. “And he told me. ‘I wasn’t in a place mentally where I could have even said it.’ That’s pretty cool. I’m happy for him.”

After being non-tendered by the Braves this past offseason, Kelenic searched for the right spot. He signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox with an invite to spring training. It was an easy decision after spending the offseason working with Ryan Fuller, White Sox director of hitting, in Nashville. 

While he didn’t make the team out of spring training, a product of roster congestion, he was called up on April 29 when outfielder Everson Pereira was placed on the injured list. 

Playing in a modified platoon role, Kelenic has posted a .231/.318/.333 slash line with a double, a homer, four RBI, five walks and 12 strikeouts in 44 plate appearances. 

“He’s got all the tools,” Seitzer said. “It’s just a matter of keeping his brain in the right spot to where he has a chance to maximize his potential. He just didn’t handle failure well.”

Now, five weeks away from turning 27 (yes, only 27), he’s one of the older players on the White Sox roster. He finds himself telling players not to overreact to strikeouts and bad games. 

Do as I say, not as I once did. Though none of the players know about those old rage-filled outbursts. It also keeps him accountable to such actions. 

He was looking forward to stepping on to the field at T-Mobile Park, where he started his MLB career and where you will still see some Kelenic No. 10 Mariners jerseys being worn by fans. 

“I’m looking forward to coming back,” he said. “That ballpark is gorgeous, and I’m looking forward to going there. Seattle will always mean something to me.”