The Orioles are set to name prime prospect Heston Kjerstad again as much as the majors, in accordance with Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner (by way of X). The corresponding transfer isn’t recognized, however MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko guesses the O’s may designate Nick Maton for project. Maton had his contract chosen earlier this week to provide Baltimore some infield depth when Jordan Westberg was nursing a hip contusion, however since Westberg has stored enjoying with seemingly no ailing impact from the contusion, Maton might 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 Might 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 judgments based mostly on such small and sporadic doses of enjoying time.
What is obvious that’s Kjerstad doesn’t have a lot much less to show on the Triple-A stage. 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 every other crew, Kjerstad would’ve already been a staple of the on a regular basis lineup and been given numerous time to check himself in opposition to big-league pitching, however the Orioles’ distinctive scenario 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 typically thought of a bat-first participant greater than a major defensive choice 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 discipline. Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser (each left-handed hitters) have been splitting time in heart discipline, with Cowser additionally seeing numerous time in left discipline, and the right-handed hitting Austin Hays additionally within the combine.
When a right-handed pitcher is on the mound, subsequently, the Orioles have already got a fairly full set of lefty-swinging choices. It’s value noting that Cowser has struggled badly since a sizzling begin to his season, so he is perhaps the likeliest to lose enjoying time if Kjerstad is coming again to the Present. Mullins has additionally began hitting higher after a deep hunch, so the Orioles may give Mullins extra time in heart discipline and Cowser may turn into one thing of a clearer backup outfielder. The difficulty there’s that Cowser is one other highly-touted younger participant whose growth received’t be helped by largely being a bench participant within the majors, fairly than getting common time on the sphere.
Because the Orioles’ return to full-fledged competition has outpaced their rebuild, the crew finds themselves with having virtually 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 enjoying time within the bigs this season, although in Holliday’s case, he was clearly ticketed for an on a regular basis function however merely struggled an excessive amount of to keep up a spot within the majors. Kjerstad may power the difficulty by occurring 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.
