Orioles To Promote Heston Kjerstad

The Orioles are set to name prime prospect Heston Kjerstad again as much as the majors, in line with Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner (via X).  The corresponding transfer isn’t identified, however MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko guesses the O’s would possibly designate Nick Maton for task.  Maton had his contract chosen earlier this week to offer Baltimore some infield depth when Jordan Westberg was nursing a hip contusion, however since Westberg has saved taking part in with seemingly no in poor health impact from the contusion, Maton could possibly be expendable.

Kjerstad made his MLB debut with 13 video games within the 2023 season, and he acquired 17 plate appearances over seven video games earlier this season when the O’s had referred to as him as much as the energetic roster from April 23 to Could 12.  Kjerstad had a .748 OPS over 33 PA in 2023 and solely a .437 OPS in his 17 PA this season, so one can’t actually make any judgements primarily based on such small and sporadic doses of taking part in time.

What is evident that’s Kjerstad doesn’t have a lot much less to show on the Triple-A degree.  He has hit .301/.390/.601 with 16 house runs over 255 PA for Norfolk this season, which comes on the heels of his .298/.371/.498 slash line in 334 Triple-A journeys to the plate in 2023.  On nearly some other workforce, Kjerstad would’ve already been a staple of the on a regular basis lineup and been given a whole lot of time to check himself towards huge league pitching, however the Orioles’ distinctive state of affairs creates extra questions on simply how typically Kjerstad goes to play.

Kjerstad is a left-handed hitter who has performed first base and each nook outfield slots within the minors, and he’s usually thought of a bat-first participant greater than a first-rate defensive possibility at any of his positions.  Ryan O’Hearn is one other lefty bat on Baltimore’s roster with that very same defensive profile, plus the O’s have Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander in on a regular basis roles at first base and proper area.  Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser (each left-handed hitters) have been splitting time in heart area, with Cowser additionally seeing a whole lot of time in left area, and the right-handed hitting Austin Hays additionally within the combine.

When a right-handed pitcher is on the mound, due to this fact, the Orioles have already got a reasonably full set of lefty-swinging choices.  It’s price noting that Cowser has struggled badly since a scorching begin to his season, so he is perhaps the likeliest to lose taking part in time if Kjerstad is coming again to the Present.  Mullins has additionally began hitting higher after a deep stoop, so the Orioles might give Mullins extra time in heart area and Cowser could possibly be change into one thing of a clearer backup outfielder.  The difficulty there’s that Cowser is one other highly-touted younger participant whose growth gained’t be helped by principally being a bench participant within the majors, somewhat than getting common time on the sector.

Because the Orioles’ return to full-fledged competition has outpaced their rebuild, the workforce finds themselves with having nearly too many good younger gamers for too few 26-man roster spots.  Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, and Jackson Holliday are different prime prospects who’ve acquired restricted taking part in time within the bigs this season, although in Holliday’s case, he was clearly ticketed for an on a regular basis position however merely struggled an excessive amount of to take care of a spot within the majors.  Kjerstad might pressure the difficulty by happening a tear on the plate as soon as he’s again within the Present, although clearly that’s simpler stated than completed for a 25-year-old participant.