Orioles' former first-round pick is pushing for a second chance when rosters expand

The Baltimore Orioles made Heston Kjerstad the second pick in the draft in 2020 out of the University of Arkansas, but his career hardly got off to the typical start. He didn't play in the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and then missed all of 2021 recovering from myocarditis he got as a result of contracting COVID.

The 6'2'' lefty made his organizational debut in 2022 at age 23, where he demolished Low-A but struggled in 43 games at High-A. Despite that, he started 2023 in Double-A, played well in 46 games, and made it to Triple-A, where he also had a successful 76 games, hitting .298 with a .870 OPS. His play earned him his MLB debut that September. The lefty got 13 games at the top level, where he hit .233 with a .749 OPS.

In 2024, Kjerstad started the season in the minors, but got a quick seven-game stint in the majors from April 23 to May 13, where he struggled with the limited playing time. Baltimore called him back up in the final week of June, where he stayed with the big league club. The University of Arkansas alum had really solid numbers after his June call-up, with a .271/.361/.435/.796 slash line, four home runs and 14 RBI in 32 games.

2025 was a lot rougher for the former top pick. He made the Opening Day roster and stuck with the club until June, but it wasn't pretty. Kjerstad hit .192 with a .566 OPS in 54 games before being optioned. He then continued to struggle in Triple-A, hitting just .149 with a sub-.500 OPS in 27 games and was shut down for undisclosed reasons. He hasn't seen major league time since.

Heston Kjerstad has utilized his time in the minors to get himself another chance in 2026

Over a year later, the now 27-year-old is making a case to get another chance with the big league team. In 73 games in Triple-A this season, Kjerstad is hitting .287 with a .334 on-base percentage and a .799 OPS. He's got 27 extra-base hits. Since July 1, Kjerstad is hitting over .300 with an OPS over .900.

Speaking with MASN's Roch Kubatko a few weeks ago, he sounded hopeful the call-up was coming soon.

"Right now I know there’s going to be an opportunity down the road," Kjerstad said. "There’s still two months left in the season, so hopefully I get a chance to come up, and whenever that chance is, I’m in a good spot and ready to go up there and help the team win games and hopefully help them push toward the playoffs.”

Not every player takes a linear path to the majors. Kjerstad had a rough start to his pro career. He only had 16 games in his final college season due to the pandemic, and then didn't play again for over two years. He had ups and downs in the minor leagues and wasn't given consistent playing time in his chances in the majors. He's dealt with injuries on and off during his time as a pro, but there was a reason the Orioles made him the No. 2 pick in the draft. With September call-ups right around the corner, he might be ready to show it.

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