Jarred Kelenic first high school player chosen in MLB Draft

A standout on Team USA 18U for the past two seasons, Kelenic graduated early from West, which does not play a spring baseball season but instead plays during the summer season. The top outfield prospect in the draft, Kelenic edged pitchers Carter Stewart of Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.) and Matthew Liberatore of Mountain Ridge (Phoenix, Ariz.), both of whom were pegged as potentially the top prep player chosen.

Kelenic was the top hitter for Team USA 18U in 2016 when he paced the team in base hits during a gold medal performance. Last year, Kelenic was second on the team in home runs and helped lead Team USA 18U to a second straight gold medal.

Kelenic is seen as a five-tool player capable of playing centerfield at the next level.

The draft began with a run on college players as Casey Mize, a pitcher from Auburn was chosen No. 1 overall by Detroit. Joey Bart, a catcher from Georgia Tech, went No. 2 to San Francisco; Alec Bohm, a third baseman from Wichita State, went No. 3 to Philadelphia; Nick Madrigal, a second baseman from Oregon State, went No. 4 to the White Sox; and Jonathan India, a third baseman from Florida, went No. 5 to Cincinnati.

A high school player had been chosen No. 1 overall in the draft the past two seasons: Royce Lewis of JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) in 2017 and Mickey Moniak of La Costa Canyon (San Diego, Calif.) in 2016.

The sixth overall pick is the lowest a high school player has been chosen since 2006 when Clayton Kershaw went No. 7 overall to the Dodgers out of Highland Park (Dallas). Kelenic is just the third Wisconsin player chosen in the first round in the past 40 years.