Heston Kjerstad Explained

Heston Kjerstad
Team:Baltimore Orioles
Number:13
Position:Outfielder/First baseman
Birth Date:12 February 1999
Birth Place:Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 14
Debutyear:2023
Debutteam:Baltimore Orioles
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:July 12, 2024
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.284
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:5
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:15
Teams:

Heston Sawyer Kjerstad (born February 12, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Kjerstad grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and attended Randall High School.[1] As a junior, he batted .477 with 32 runs batted in (RBIs). He was named his district's most valuable player and first team All-State.[2] Kjerstad was named first team All-State and the district's most valuable player again as a senior.[3] [4] The Seattle Mariners selected him in the 36th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted to play college baseball for the University of Arkansas instead.[5]

As a freshman, Kjerstad was a starting outfielder for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He batted .332 with 30 extra base hits, 14 home runs, 58 RBIs and was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year, second team All-SEC and a freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.[6] [7] [8] He helped the team to the 2018 College World Series final and was named to the All-Tournament team.[9] [10] As a sophomore, Kjerstad was again named second team All-SEC after batting .327 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs.[11] During the summer, he played for the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team and batted .395 in 14 games.[12] [13]

Kjerstad entered his junior season as a preseason first team All-American selection by Perfect Game and by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and as a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft.[14] [15] He was named the SEC Player of the Week as well as the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball for the first week of the season after going 7 for 13 with four home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in the Razorbacks opening series against Eastern Illinois.[16] [17] Kjerstad batted .448 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 16 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[18]

Professional career

The Baltimore Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round, with the second overall pick, in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[19] Kjerstad signed with the Orioles on June 30, 2020, for a $5.2 million bonus.[20] Kjerstad developed myocarditis after signing and missed spring training and all of the 2021 season.[21]

After beginning the 2022 season in extended spring training, Kjerstad made his professional debut on June 10, 2022, for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.[22] In early July, he was promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds after batting .463 with 37 hits and 17 RBIs in 22 games with Delmarva.[23] Kjerstad batted .233/.312/.362 in 163 at bats in 43 games playing for the IronBirds.[24] Kjerstad played in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he batted .371/.400/.663, and led the league in at bats (89) and doubles (9), as he was second in strikeouts (27).[25]

The Orioles invited Kjerstad to spring training in 2023 as a non-roster player; he batted .381 with four home runs in 23 games before being reassigned to minor league camp.[26] Kjerstad began the 2023 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and started playing first base in addition to outfield.[27] He hit .310 (57-for-184)/.383/.576/.959 and was among the Eastern League top five in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging (OPS), triples, home runs, extra-base hits and hits with the Baysox before his promotion to the Norfolk Tides on June 5.[28] His first Triple-A homer was a leadoff inside-the-parker in the seventh inning of an 8 - 4 away win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders four days later on June 9.[29] [30] Kjerstad was selected to play in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.[31] Kjerstad batted .303 with 21 home runs and 55 RBI in 122 games between the two affiliates.

On September 14, 2023, Kjerstad was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Ryan Mountcastle.[32] He struck out as a pinch hitter for Jordan Westburg to lead off the eighth inning in a 4 - 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in his MLB debut later that evening.[33] He got his first MLB hit in a 7 - 1 loss to the same opponent the following night on September 15 when he ended Zach Eflin's no-hitter attempt with a leadoff homer to right-center in the sixth.[34] In 13 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .233/.281/.467 with two home runs and three RBI.

Kjerstad was optioned to Triple–A Norfolk to begin the 2024 season.[35] He set a single-game Tides record with 10 RBIs in a 26 - 11 away win over the Charlotte Knights on April 3.[36] He went 5-for-7 with a pair of doubles and home runs each and four runs scored.[37] The Orioles promoted Kjerstad to the major leagues on April 23.[38] He went 2-for-14 with two walks and six strikeouts in seven games before returning to the Tides twenty days later on May 13.[39] Five days after his second recall of the campaign on June 24,[40] he hit his first major-league grand slam over the center-field wall off Michael Lorenzen with two outs in the fifth inning of a 6 - 5 home win over the Texas Rangers on June 29.[41]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: College World Series dream come true for Randall's Kjerstad. Amarillo Globe-News. June 16, 2018. February 13, 2020.
  2. Web site: Arkansas Baseball Lands 19 Prospects On Signing Day. 5NewsOnline.com. November 17, 2016. February 13, 2020.
  3. Web site: TSWA All-State Baseball Teams. Waco Tribune-Herald. August 7, 2017. February 13, 2020.
  4. Web site: King, Kjerstad share District 3-5A MVP Award. Tim. Ritter. Canyon News. June 7, 2017. February 13, 2020.
  5. Web site: Randall's Kjerstad Drafted by Mariners. Thomas. Warren. The Amarillo Pioneer. June 16, 2017. February 13, 2020.
  6. Web site: Heston Kjerstad named SEC Freshman of the Year. THV11.com. May 21, 2018.
  7. Web site: Randall grad Kjerstad named to freshman squad on 2018 D1 baseball freshman All-America team. Amarillo Globe-News. July 5, 2018.
  8. Web site: Arkansas' Freshmen Help Lead Razorbacks Past Texas. J. J.. Cooper. Baseball America. June 18, 2018. February 13, 2020.
  9. Web site: No summer ball for Hogs' Kjerstad. WholeHogSports.com. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. July 11, 2018. February 13, 2020.
  10. Web site: Former Randall star, Arkansas OF Kjerstad preps for second straight appearance at the College World Series. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. June 14, 2019. February 13, 2020.
  11. Web site: Kjerstad and Martin to focus on plate discipline next season. Pete. Roulier. 247Sports.com. July 4, 2019. February 13, 2020.
  12. Web site: Kjerstad shines for Team USA. Pete. Roulier. 247Sports.com. July 22, 2019. February 13, 2020.
  13. Web site: Razorbacks' Kjerstad impacts Team USA squad. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. July 26, 2019. February 13, 2020.
  14. Web site: Kjerstad continues to rake in preseason honors. Pete. Roulier. 247Sports.com. January 21, 2020. February 13, 2020.
  15. Web site: These are the best college 2020 Draft prospects. Jim. Callis. MLB.com. August 22, 2019. February 13, 2020.
  16. Web site: Razorback junior named National Player of the Week. Pete. Roulier. 247Sports.com. February 17, 2020. February 17, 2020.
  17. Web site: Kjerstad Belts Two More HR As Arkansas Sweeps Eastern Illinois. Bobby. Swofford. 5NewsOnline.com. February 16, 2020. February 17, 2020.
  18. Web site: Heston Kjerstad was enjoying phenomenal junior season. Pete. Roulier. March 14, 2020. March 21, 2020.
  19. Web site: Five things to know about Orioles' No. 2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad. Baltimore Sun. June 11, 2020.
  20. Web site: Orioles sign No. 2 overall pick Kjerstad. Joe. Trezza. MLB.com. July 1, 2020. July 1, 2020.
  21. Web site: Kjerstad to report to O's alt site (source). Joe. Trezzo. MLB.com. April 20, 2021. May 27, 2021.
  22. Web site: O's Kjerstad makes pro debut, collects 1st hit, after 2-year wait . .
  23. Web site: Heston Kjerstad earns first promotion after just 22 games . 11 July 2022 .
  24. Web site: Ten most interesting Orioles prospects to follow throughout minor leagues in 2023. Baltimore Sun. March 16, 2023. April 3, 2023.
  25. Web site: The Official Site of Major League Baseball. MLB.com.
  26. Web site: Hot-hitting Kjerstad sent to minors after Orioles' spring win over Blue Jays. CBS Baltimore. March 22, 2023. April 3, 2023.
  27. Web site: Kjerstad tries hand at first base in Double-A. Jake. Rill. MLB.com. April 9, 2023. April 10, 2023.
  28. https://www.milb.com/norfolk/news/kjerstad-lucas-promoted-to-triple-a-norfolk Stanley, John. "Kjerstad, Lucas Promoted to Triple-A Norfolk," Norfolk Tides, Monday, June 5, 2023.
  29. https://www.mlb.com/news/baltimore-orioles-minor-league-roundup-june-11 Rill, Jake. "Kjerstad's first Triple-A homer was anything but normal," MLB.com, Sunday, June 11, 2023.
  30. https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/06/09/tides-club-five-home-runs-rodriguez-strikes-out-10-in-road-victory-vs-railriders/ Dearth, Sonny. "Tides club five home runs, Rodriguez strikes out 10 in road victory vs. RailRiders," The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA), Friday, June 9, 2023.
  31. Web site: Orioles prospects Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad to play in MLB All-Star Futures Game in Seattle. Baltimore Sun. June 26, 2023. June 27, 2023.
  32. Web site: Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Officially up for MLB debut. September 14, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
  33. https://apnews.com/article/rays-orioles-luke-raley-9af2b8840bb24707dea8f1076eabadee Trister, Noah. "Rays open series in Baltimore with 4 - 3 victory, pull within game of Orioles in AL East," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, September 14, 2023.
  34. https://www.mlb.com/news/heston-kjerstad-slugs-solo-homer-for-first-hit-of-mlb-career Rill, Jake. "Kjerstad crushes 418-ft homer for first big league hit," MLB.com, Friday, September 15, 2023.
  35. Web site: Orioles Reassign Jackson Holliday, Option Heston Kjerstad And Kyle Stowers. March 22, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. March 22, 2024 . en.
  36. https://www.wavy.com/sports/tides/kjerstad-and-stowers-pace-tides-on-record-setting-night-in-26-11-win/ Parsons, Brian. "Kjerstad and Stowers pace Tides on record-setting night in 26 - 11 win," WAVY-TV 10 (Portsmouth, Virginia), Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
  37. https://www.milb.com/gameday/tides-vs-knights/2024/04/03/753540/final/box Norfolk Tides at Charlotte Knights, Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (box score)  - MiLB.com.
  38. Web site: Orioles recall top outfield prospect Kjerstad. MLB.com.
  39. https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/05/14/heston-kjerstad-is-back-with-norfolk-tides-kyle-stowers-heads-to-orioles-as-balancing-act-continues/ Meyer, Jacob Calvin. "Heston Kjerstad back with Norfolk Tides, Kyle Stowers heads to Orioles as ‘balancing act’ continues," The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
  40. https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/heston-kjerstad-getting-called-up-by-orioles Rill, Jake and Trezza, Joe. "O's call up No. 4 prospect Kjerstad for 3rd MLB stint," MLB.com, Monday, June 24, 2024.
  41. https://apnews.com/article/rangers-orioles-score-kjerstad-204b74ce9be5b58230051ea310eea6f1 Ginsburg, David. "Heston Kjerstad’s first career slam propels Orioles past Rangers 6 - 5," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, June 29, 2024.

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