Heston Kjerstad Fantasy Stats

The Baltimore Orioles are calling up outfielder Heston Kjerstad on Tuesday with MLB rosters expanding, a source with direct knowledge told Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Kjerstad hit .289 with a .799 on-base-plus-slugging percentage at Triple-A Norfolk this year and has hit .301 with an .889 OPS since July. When Kjerstad gets into a game for the O's, it will be his season debut in the big leagues in 2026. The former first-rounder from Arkansas had his development delayed when he was diagnosed with myocarditis in 2024 before suffering a concussion when he was hit in the helmet by a pitch. Kjerstad also missed most of 2025, although the circumstances around that are murky. It is unclear how much Kjerstad will play in his return to Baltimore, but he could be especially valuable against right-handed pitchers. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has combined to hit just .218/.284/.365 with a .649 OPS, 10 homers, 36 RBI, 18 walks, and 88 strikeouts in 106 games across 314 plate appearances in Baltimore since making his major-league debut in 2023.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (hamstring) is dealing with a right-hamstring strain, manager Craig Albernaz told Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. Kjerstad injured his hamstring on Thursday and will receive imaging in Baltimore on Sunday. With outfield prospect Dylan Beavers (quadriceps) also dealing with an injury, Baltimore's deep group of outfielders is quickly thinning out ahead of Opening Day next week. Even if the 27-year-old Kjerstad's hamstring injury isn't serious, he may be forced to open the 2026 campaign on the injured list. He hit just .195 (8-for-41) with two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored, one walk, and 11 strikeouts in 13 Grapefruit League games and might not have made the team's Opening Day roster, even if he was healthy. The former second overall pick in 2020 out of Arkansas has been a first-round bust so far, hitting .218/.284/.365 with 10 homers, 36 RBI, and an 88:18 K:BB in 106 games over his three seasons in Baltimore. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues may be starting to lose patience.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (fatigue) will be a full participant during Spring Training, according to O's manager Craig Albernaz. Kjerstad didn't play after late July last season due to fatigue issues. He later underwent treatment for an undisclosed medical condition, but appears to be fully healthy now. The 26-year-old slashed .192/.240/.327 with four home runs, 19 RBI, and one steal in 54 games with the Orioles last season. The former first-round pick hasn't quite put it all together at the MLB level yet. He doesn't exactly have a clear path to consistent playing time in Baltimore to begin the season. Kjestad still has promising potential, so he's someone to keep an eye on during camp.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (undisclosed) is currently on the Triple-A Norfolk 7-day injured list, but no specific diagnosis has been shared other than that he is dealing with fatigue. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino reiterated on Wednesday that the team is "not ready to share" details on what is ailing Kjerstad, but could provide an update later in the week. The former second-overall draft pick began the year with the big league club, but was sent to Triple-A in early June. Since then, the 26-year-old has slashed .149/.225/.248 in 27 games, but has not played in a game for Norfolk since July 25. Hopefully it is nothing serious, and the former top prospect can get back on his way to contributing in the majors again soon.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (knee) was removed from the Triple-A Norfolk game after fouling a ball off his right knee, MASN's Roch Kubatko reports. Thursday's game was Kjerstad's fourth game with Norfolk since being demoted, and he went just 2-for-15 with five strikeouts before exiting Thursday's game. The severity of the injury is unknown, and the Orioles will likely provide an update on Friday or Saturday. It's been a rough season for Kjerstad, slashing .192/.240/.327 in 167 plate appearances at the MLB level in 2025, and now injuring himself in Triple-A after getting demoted. The former second overall pick in 2020 will hope for good news and look to get things heading in the right direction.

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Tuesday that they optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk and reinstated outfielder Cedric Mullins (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Kjerstad gets caught in a roster crunch with Baltimore's outfield getting healthy. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2020 out of Arkansas has not been able to carve out a regular role with the team since debuting in 2023. In 54 games this year, he went 30-for-156 (.192) with four home runs, five doubles, two triples, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, a steal, six walks and 45 strikeouts in 167 plate appearances. Kjerstad has a .218/.284/.365 slash line, .649 OPS, 10 homers, 36 RBI and 88 strikeouts in 106 games played at the big-league level since 2023. He has hit the ball hard, but he's just not making enough contact.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale at Fenway Park against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Jorge Mateo is getting a rare start in left field and will bat ninth against Red Sox right-hander Walker Buehler. Kjerstad has been playing regularly for the struggling Orioles due to injuries to Colton Cowser (thumb), Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) and Ramon Laureano (ankle), but he hasn't taken advantage of the extra opportunities and is hitting just .205/.252/.328 on the year with four home runs, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored and a steal in 122 at-bats. The former second overall pick in 2020 out of Arkansas has also gone 5-for-32 (.156) with a homer, two RBI and eight K's in 11 games since May 8. Mateo has speed (seven steals) but is hitting .205 (8-for-39) with no homers this year. He's a low-upside DFS sleeper on Sunday against a pitcher he's never faced.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (elbow) is starting in left field and is batting sixth on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals and left-hander Mitchell Parker at Nationals Park. Kjerstad will be available for the series opener against the Nats after sitting on Sunday following a bruised elbow that he suffered on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. While Kjerstad has been swinging the bat well early in the season for the O's, fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere in DFS while he faces a left-hander on Tuesday. He's gone 2-for-7 against southpaws early on, but all three of his home runs and all but one of his 12 RBI this year have come against right-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old outfielder enters Tuesday's contest slashing .261/.300/.500 with three homers, 12 RBI and nine runs scored in his first 18 games for Baltimore.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (elbow) was forced to exit early during Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Kjerstad was pulled out of the contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch from Hunter Greene in the first inning. The X-rays were negative and the team is calling the injury right elbow discomfort. For now, Kjerstad should be considered day-to-day, but the expectation is that he'll undergo further evaluation. Ramon Laureano took over on Saturday and figures to see more playing time if Kjerstad is forced to miss time.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad turned in a productive game in a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. Kjerstad went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk in the winning effort. The 26-year-old outfielder plated the final two runs of the game with a 400-foot two-run homer off Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee in the sixth inning. Kjerstad is now hitting .233 with two homers, eight runs, and 10 RBI across 43 at-bats in the first month of the season.