Heston Kjerstad #13 of the Baltimore Orioles runs off the field. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Sun, reported on April 22 that Orioles outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad had been recalled to the majors. According to MLBpipeline.com, Kjerstad is the 29th-ranked prospect in baseball and No. 4 in the Orioles’ farm system.
Kjerstad, 25, was born in Amarillo, Texas. Baltimore selected him second overall in the 2020 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft. After playing in his junior season at the University of Arkansas, he signed with the organization on June 30, 2020, for a $5.2 million bonus contract.
The left-hand hitter played in 21 games with Triple-A Norfolk to start the 2024 season and batted .349 in 102 plate appearances, smacking 30 hits, four doubles, ten home runs, 30 RBI, 12 walks, and 12 strikeouts before being promoted to the Orioles.
Kjerstad started four games in left field, eight at first base, and seven in right field during his time at Triple-A Norfolk.
Kjerstad played 18 games during spring training and batted .265 with 51 plate appearances, roping 13 hits, one double, three RBI, one walk, and 12 strikeouts before being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on March 22.
Last season, Kjerstad made his big league debut on September 14, 2023, and played in 13 games, hitting .233 with 32 plate appearances, recording seven hits, one double, two home runs, three RBI, two walks, and ten strikeouts.
Kjerstad played in 122 games with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk and batted .303 with 540 plate appearances, smacking 145 hits, 29 doubles, eight triples, 21 home runs, 55 RBI, five stolen bases, 42 walks, 100 strikeouts, and a .904 OPS before he was called up to Baltimore.
He played 208 games in three seasons in the minors and has a lifetime average of .309 with 926 plate appearances. He recorded 250 hits, 50 doubles, ten triples, 36 home runs, 122 RBI, seven stolen bases, 83 walks, 186 strikeouts, and a .917 OPS.