With the Baltimore Orioles’ season ending earlier than hoped, we’re starting our offseason series by reviewing the performances of O’s prospects. Our focus today is on Heston Kjerstad, who, while technically no longer a prospect due to his MLB service time, still spent more time in the minors than in the majors this season, playing only a limited number of games at the big league level.
This season was meant to be an opportunity for the Orioles to evaluate Kjerstad as a potential replacement for Anthony Santander, should he leave in free agency. Unfortunately, that evaluation was cut short, largely due to an incident involving the New York Yankees.
On July 12, Kjerstad was beaned by Yankees reliever Clay Holmes during the ninth inning of a game. At the time, Kjerstad had been starting regularly, and the crowd at Camden Yards was stunned when he collapsed at the plate. After being attended to by trainers, he left the field and was placed in concussion protocol.
The next day, the Orioles put Kjerstad on the 7-day concussion injured list. Although he was activated a week later, it quickly became evident that he was still experiencing concussion symptoms. He struggled at the plate, going just 2-for-18 in seven games and had some defensive mistakes before being optioned back to the minors on August 1. He was then placed back on the concussion IL, not returning to the field for over a month. Kjerstad started a rehab assignment on September 7 and returned to the Orioles by mid-September, but by then, he was only a part-time player, making seven starts and achieving a modest .636 OPS. Overall, he played 39 games for the Orioles, finishing with a .253/.351/.394 slash line and four home runs. He also pinch-hit twice during the Wild Card Series but did not record a hit.
In total, Kjerstad has played 52 regular season games, showcasing a solid 116 OPS+. This suggests his bat has the potential to succeed at the major league level, but the small sample size—thanks in part to the Yankees’ actions—means it’s still unclear whether he can be an everyday player or a situational hitter.
What is clear is that Kjerstad has outgrown the minor leagues. Early in the season with the Norfolk Tides, he dominated Triple-A pitching, batting an impressive .500 (18-for-36) in his first eight games, hitting six home runs and driving in an astonishing 25 runs in that span. However, with a crowded outfield that featured breakout rookie Colton Cowser and veterans like Santander and Cedric Mullins, there was limited room for Kjerstad on the roster. It wasn’t until Austin Hays went on the injured list that Kjerstad got his chance, but he only started four games before being sent back down.
After returning to the minors, Kjerstad continued to excel, boasting an .878 OPS over 35 games. Fans began clamoring for his return to the majors, and he eventually got that chance in late June, continuing to hit well with a .378/.465/.676 line over 14 games. However, his promising season took another hit when he was struck by Holmes.
The Orioles now face uncertainty regarding Kjerstad’s role for the next season. While he is likely to secure a spot on the roster, whether he’ll be seen as a platoon player or primarily a designated hitter is still up in the air. He had limited exposure to left-handed pitchers, only accumulating 16 plate appearances against them. In total, across the majors and minors, he managed a respectable .764 OPS in 90 plate appearances.
If Santander leaves this offseason, Kjerstad could be the ideal candidate to fill that void. Should the Orioles decide to move on from Ryan O’Hearn, Kjerstad could also fit into the designated hitter spot. With expectations for more playing time next season, there’s a chance he could follow the success of other recent homegrown hitters like Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, and Adley Rutschman. Fans should keep an eye on Kjerstad, as 2025 might be a breakout year for him—provided the Yankees don’t intervene again.
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