Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad (concussion) begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday with High-A Aberdeen and has gone 2-for-5 with a walk and a run scored in his first two games. On Sunday, Kjerstad went 2-for-2 with a run and a walk before being replaced in right field. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder served as the designated hitter in his first rehab appearance on Saturday. Kjerstad has been away from the Orioles since suffering a concussion in late July. It's a good sign that he's now playing in games again, but it's unknown how long he'll be on a rehab assignment before being an option to rejoin Baltimore's big-league roster as outfield depth to close out the 2024 regular season. There's a very realistic chance that Kjerstad is sent to Triple-A Norfolk, instead of the majors, once he's finished with his rehab assignment.
Heston Kjerstad Goes On Injured List With Concussion
After initially being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk late last week, the Baltimore Orioles placed rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad (concussion) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 1) on Wednesday due to a concussion. It's the second time this year that Kjerstad has been on the IL due to a concussion, which is pretty concerning. After coming off his first stint on the IL on July 20, the 25-year-old had just two hits in 18 at-bats with seven strikeouts, and it appears he still hasn't fully recovered from his head injury. Head injuries are pretty serious, so there will be no timetable for his return to action at Norfolk, let alone in the big leagues again with the Orioles in 2024. Kjerstad has hit .261 (18-for-69) with three homers and 12 RBI in just 28 games for the O's this year, and given Baltimore's crowded outfield picture, there's no clear path to playing time the rest of the way if he gets past his concussion symptoms.
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday afternoon. This was Kjerstad's second stint in the major leagues this season and the third opportunity in his career. Since being promoted to Baltimore on June 24, the Arkansas product posted a strong .291/.391/.491 line with three home runs, 12 RBI, and a 7:18 BB:K ratio. However, he was unable to find stable playing time in the outfield during this stint, as he rarely started in consecutive games. At the trade deadline, the Orioles acquired slugger Eloy Jimenez from the White Sox and depth outfielder Austin Slater, which created a further logjam in the outfield. The 25-year-old will now return to the top level of the minor leagues, where he has performed exceptionally well over the past two summers, holding a .299/.382/.541 line. The former second-overall selection should still be rostered in all keeper and dynasty formats but could be let go in shallower redraft leagues as he may not get another opportunity in the majors until later in the summer.
Heston Kjerstad, Connor Norby Out For Game 1 Of Doubleheader
Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad and second baseman Connor Norby will both start on the bench on Monday for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the visiting division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Fellow rookie Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting leadoff, while Jordan Westburg will play second base and hit sixth against Blue Jays rookie right-hander Yariel Rodriguez. In Baltimore's crowded outfield, Kjerstad has been a part-time player and is hitting .277 (18-for-65) with three homers and 12 RBI in just 27 games played. Norby should return to duties at the keystone in Game 2 and is the O's primary second baseman with Jorge Mateo (elbow) set to miss significant time. The 24-year-old prospect has intriguing long-term upside but has gone only 5-for-28 (.179) with two homers, three RBI and 10 K's in his first eight MLB games in 2024.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (head) was reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list on Saturday afternoon. The rookie was hit in the head by a pitch from the New York Yankees' Clay Holmes last weekend. The Orioles sent outfielder Kyle Stowers down to Triple-A in a corresponding move. The left-handed hitting Kjerstad is hitting .314 with three home runs, 12 RBI, one stolen base, and five runs scored in 60 plate appearances. Kjerstad is starting in right field and hitting fifth on Saturday against veteran Max Scherzer and the Texas Rangers.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (concussion) did a full workout ahead of Friday's series opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington against the defending-champion Texas Rangers. Kjerstad, who was placed on the 7-day concussion injured on July 13 after being hit in the head by a pitch, is eligible to be activated ahead of Saturday's contest against the Rangers. The 25-year-old top prospect had been one of the hottest hitters in Baltimore's lineup before going down, hitting .378 (14-for-37) with three home runs, two doubles, 12 RBI, and one stolen base across 14 games since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 24 for his second stint in the major leagues this season. Wherever Kjerstad may have been dropped in fantasy leagues during the All-Star break, he's worth adding prior to Saturday's action to see if his hot streak carries into his imminent return to play.
Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad (head) was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on Saturday, July 13. In a corresponding move, Baltimore promoted outfielder Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk. Kjerstad left Friday's game early after being hit by a pitch in the head. The Arkansas product was originally set to start in Saturday's game but was a late scratch after struggling in pregame drills. The former second-overall pick has performed very well in his latest stint in the major leagues with a .378/.465/.676 slash line, three home runs, and 12 RBI. Stowers has appeared in 17 games this season at the major league level and held a .286/.278/.486 line and could see an occasional start while Kjerstad remains sidelined.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (head) was scratched from the team's lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old was initially in the lineup on Saturday, a day after getting hit in the head by a 97 mph sinker from Yankees reliever Clay Holmes during Friday's loss. According to Jake Rill of MLB.com, Kjerstad went out for a pregame workout and wasn't feeling 100 percent. The Orioles are being cautious with Kjerstad and will hold him out for Saturday's game. Kjerstad is considered day-to-day, with his next chance to return to the lineup on Sunday for the series finale. Austin Hays replaces Kjerstad in the lineup and will handle left field duties for Saturday's contest. Hays is mainly an option in deep-leagues after slashing .259/.312/.413 with three home runs and 14 RBI over 56 games in 2024.
Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad (head) will play in left field and bat in the six-hole on Saturday afternoon. Kjerstad was hit in the head during Friday's game and had to leave the game early. Fortunately, the 25-year-old avoided any serious injury as he is already back in the starting nine. Since returning to the major leagues at the end of June, the Arkansas product has performed very well with a .378/.465/.676 slash line, three home runs, and 12 RBI. The former second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft is showcasing his elite power upside and has begun to carve out a permanent role on the major league roster. Kjerstad is worth adding in all standard leagues if available and could be a sneaky play in DFS this afternoon against Yankees right-hander Luis Gil, who has struggled with a hefty 9.37 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in his previous four starts.
Heston Kjerstad Leaves After Being Hit In The Head
Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad (head) left Friday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees after being hit in the head by a pitch from Yankees closer Clay Holmes with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kjerstad was checked by head athletic trainer Brian Ebel before coming out of the game. Before leaving, the 25-year-old went 1-for-3 with a run scored in the eventual 4-1 loss. The good news is that he was hit in the back of the helmet, but he'll surely be put through the league's concussion protocol and could land on the seven-day injured list before next week's All-Star break. Coming into Friday's contest, Kjerstad was hitting .313 (15-for-48) with three homers and 12 RBI in his first 20 games in 2024 after debuting in 2023. If he has a concussion and misses time to open the second half of the season next weekend, Austin Hays would benefit from more playing time in the O's crowded outfield picture.
Heston Kjerstad
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Orioles
