How Heston Kjerstad can reset his Orioles career in Triple-A

The writing was on the wall for Heston Kjerstad. The returns of Colton Cowser and Ramon Laureano on the Orioles' West Coast road trip got Baltimore's outfield one step closer to full strength.

They joined Kjerstad and Dylan Carlson, with the latter performing admirably in his increased role. In his last 15 contests, Carlson has hit close to .300 with an .888 OPS, providing some solid defense in the corner outfield, too.

On Tuesday, the O's reinstated another outfielder. This time, it was Cedric Mullins, who is set to return to his everyday role in center field. Cowser will likely play close to every day, too, and Laureano has been the team's best right-handed hitter. Paired with Carlson's recent surge and bid for playing time, that doesn't leave much room for Baltimore's former No. 2 overall pick.

Kjerstad had flashed loads of potential over the last few seasons, but struggled with more opportunities this year. The big swinging lefty has appeared in 54 games this season, slashing just .192/.240/.327 with a .566 on-base plus slugging percentage. That OPS was as high as .800 in mid-April, but the Arkansas product has struggled to find a consistent form.

Without a clear path for playing time in the big leagues, Kjerstad was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. The outfielder doesn't have much to "prove" at the level, with a career OPS of .924 in over 130 games with the Tides. But clearly, the outfielder requires a reset.

Heston Kjerstad looking to right his wrongs in the minors

There's no denying Kjerstad's talent at the dish. We've seen it in the majors, as he posted a .746 OPS in his first two big league seasons. Of course, we've seen it on the farm, too, with a batting average over .300 in his minor league career. Sometimes, though, a hitter needs a reset, whether that's physical or mental. Getting back to mashing at a lower level could be just the confidence boost that Kjerstad needs.

The outfielder's defense could certainly use some work, too. It's not that Kjerstad doesn't have the athleticism for it, ranking in the 63rd percentile in sprint speed and 65th percentile in arm value, according to Statcast. His -7 outs above average, though, suggests there are different problems, be it routes or jumps. Kjerstad will have the time and opportunity to work that out in a Tides uniform.

Therein lies the benefit of heading down to the minors. On the farm, development is prioritized over the wins and losses, giving Kjerstad the opportunity to tweak and tinker as much as necessary with consistent playing time.

After the necessary adjustments, the outfielder should be back in Baltimore in no time.

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