It was the days before the 2018 MLB Draft, and the Seattle Mariners invited Jarred Kelenic to a private workout at Safeco Field. As pre-draft diligence goes, it was mostly routine: Kelenic was one of the top prospects in the country. The Mariners, owners of the 14th overall pick, wanted a closer look at his prodigious tools.



There were, however, two moments that set the day apart, two moments that have stuck with Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto. The first stemmed from the presence of Mariners manager Scott Servais, who like Kelenic hails from Wisconsin. Seeking to make a strong impression, the front office asked Servais to come watch. When the workout was over, they sat down for 20 minutes and discussed their home state and their love of the Packers. “Whatever Wisconsin people talk about,” Dipoto said.



The other moment had come a short while earlier, when Kelenic, a 6-foot-1 center fielder with a powerful build, had deposited a baseball into the Hit It Here Cafe,...