Mariners promote top prospect Jarred Kelenic to Class AA Arkansas

Jarred Kelenic has moved one step closer to the big leagues and it’s now very real for fans to envision the Mariners’ top prospect in the batter’s box of T-Mobile Park perhaps by the end of the 2020 season.

On Saturday, the Mariners promoted the hard-hitting outfielder to Class AA Arkansas to finish out the 2019 season and participate in the Texas League postseason.

Mariners director of player development Andy McKay said the plan was to call up for Kelenic to play in the playoffs, which start on Sept. 4 in Little Rock. But with the trade that sent Ian Miller, Class AAA Tacoma’s starting centerfielder, to the Twins, the Mariners used it as an opportunity to promote Kelenic early. Outfielder…