Jarred Kelenic of Waukesha West High School becomes highest MLB drafted prep player from Wisconsin

Tom Haudricourt | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Show Caption Hide Caption Jarred Kelenic is Wisconsin's highest MLB drafted preps player Jarred Kelenic celebrates at his draft party after being selected with the sixth pick by the New York Mets.

Jarred Kelenic made Wisconsin baseball history Monday evening when he was taken at No. 6 in the first round of the MLB draft by the New York Mets.

Kelenic, of Waukesha West High School, became the highest draft pick ever from the state and by a significant margin. The previous top pick was Nekoosa High School’s Kevin Brandt, taken at No. 11 in 1979 by the Minnesota Twins.

Kelenic, 18, projected as a Top 10 pick by many draft sites, was the first high school player taken. A left-handed-hitting centerfielder, he was considered the top bat among prep players and one of the better athletes. He graduated in December so he could focus on being prepared for the draft, a move that obviously paid off.

In a recent interview with the Journal Sentinel, Kelenic was asked about the possibility of being the highest draft pick ever from Wisconsin.

“I simply just say that ever since I was really young, I’ve had the highest expectations possible,” he said. “When people tell me, ‘You have a chance to be No. 1, a first-round pick, top 10, I expect that of myself. That’s who I am.”

Though Kelenic did not play for his high school team, he made a name playing in international tournaments and in prep showcases across the country. He also has played for the Rawlings Hitters travel team out of Caledonia each spring.

RELATED: Area high school MLB draft picks in the last 10 years

His parents helped his development by purchasing 70 acres of farmland in Waukesha and building a baseball complex known as Infinity Fields/5 Diamonds.

The family also owns buildings in Waukesha where the Stiks Academy batting cages are located as well as NX Level, a sports training facility where NFL star J.J. Watt works out.

Kelenic has been a member of two Team USA teams that won gold medals in international play. In the 2016 Pan American Games in Mexico, his U18 team won the title and Kelenic was named MVP.

At a gathering of family and friends, Kelenic was very emotional upon hearing his name called and told New York reporters why.

"Today was special," Kelenic said. "To hear your name called by such a great organization like New York, it's a blessing. I was definitely very emotional. I got to sit and think about all the hard work that's paid off."

Other top prep picks from the state were West Allis Hale's Gary Polczynski, taken at No. 15 by the Reds in 1970, and Kenosha Indian Trail's Gavin Lux, selected 20th by the Dodgers in 2016.

Kenosha Bradford's Augie Schmidt was taken second in 1982 but he was drafted out of the University of New Orleans.