Heston Kjerstad called up by Orioles

ANAHEIM — When Austin Hays landed on the injured list on Monday with a left calf strain, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Orioles would promote one of the many top outfield prospects performing at Triple-A Norfolk. That is indeed the case.

Baltimore promoted outfielder Heston Kjerstad on Tuesday and optioned catcher David Bañuelos to Triple-A Norfolk. Kjerstad is MLB Pipeline’s No. 29 overall prospect and No. 4 in the Orioles’ system.

Selected No. 2 overall by the Orioles in the 2020 MLB Draft, Kjerstad made his debut at the end of the ‘23 season and posted a .748 OPS with two home runs in 13 games. The 25-year-old Kjerstad has dominated Triple-A this season with a .349/.431/.744 slash line, with an International League-leading 10 home runs in 21 games.

Kjerstad’s promotion comes at a time when many young Orioles hitters — and previous top prospects like himself — are dominating at the MLB level. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson have already established themselves as stars, but that same high-level production has extended to other young Orioles.

Jordan Westburg just took home AL Player of the Week honors after posting a 1.413 OPS and driving in eight runs. Colton Cowser — another young O’s outfielder — took home the same honors the previous week when he homered four times and drove in 12 runs. It was the first time since 1981 that the Orioles have had back-to-back AL Player of the Week recipients (Eddie Murray in two straight weeks).

Even with 20-year-old Jackson Holliday (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect) struggling in his brief MLB tenure thus far, the Orioles have a demonstrated track record of their top position-player prospects producing at the MLB level. Based on what Kjerstad has done in the Minors this year, he could be the latest young Oriole to crush MLB pitching.