MLB All-Star weekend is around the corner, and the rosters for the 2023 Futures Game have officially been announced.
In those rosters, two Orioles prospects were given the honor to participate in the game that highlights the top young talent from around the league. Those being infielder Jackson Holliday and outfielder/first baseman Heston Kjerstad.
Holliday and Kjerstad enter a list of notable Orioles throughout the years who have also received the honor. The list includes Gunnar Henderson in 2022, Adley Rutschman in 2021, D.L. Hall in 2019 and Ryan Mountcastle in 2018.
So, what did these two players do to earn this type of honor and recognition? They have simply been dominant all year. Let’s go over each player’s accolades thus far.
JACKSON HOLLIDAY – INF
The 2022 first overall pick has been nothing short of incredible during the 2023 season so far. The newly ranked No. 1 prospect in all of baseball started the year with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds and is currently a member of the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds, with a possible chance of seeing Double-A later this year.
Holliday has played in 63 games this season and is slashing .325/.463/.531 with a .994 OPS in 228 total at-bats. The 19-year-old has 74 total hits, 14 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. He also has 47 RBIs and 57 walks.
While his bat has been red hot this season, he has been phenomenal in the field and on the base paths, stealing 20 bags.
Holliday is the only player on the AL Futures Game roster that was drafted first overall in his draft class. He is also the youngest member of the team.
HESTON KJERSTAD – OF/1B
I say this every time we talk about Heston Kjerstad. The Orioles did, in fact, not reach in the 2020 draft when taking him second overall.
Kjerstad is currently MLB Pipeline’s 40th overall prospect and is fourth in the Orioles’ top 30 prospects list. The lefty slugger started the season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and is currently in Triple-A Norfolk with a chance of making his MLB debut sometime this season.
Kjerstad has been red hot this season at the plate, all while learning to play a new position periodically. The former Razorback has played in 63 games this season and has slashed .304/.377/.579 with a .956 OPS in 247 at-bats. He has 75 total hits, 15 doubles, four triples and 15 home runs, tallying 28 RBIs and drawing 18 walks.
Kjerstad is the oldest position player of the AL Futures Game team at 24 years old and four months. He is someone who should start the game in the outfield but could also slot in as the designated hitter.
As we talk about the Future Game, we should talk about the Orioles and how their prospects have done in the showcase throughout the years. The O’s have yet to have a game MVP, and hopefully, that breaks this time around.
The last Orioles’ prospect to grab a hit in the game was Chance Sisco in 2017, who hit an RBI triple. The last Oriole to hit a home run was also Chance Sisco in the 2016 game when he hit a solo shot.
Will we see a hit or even a home run this year? We’ll all just have to watch and see.
What do you think of Holliday and Kjerstad making the Futures Game? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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