One of the advantages of a deep farm system is the ability to keep going forward when a cog in the wheel needs replacing.
The Orioles have weathered through injuries to outfielders Cedric Mullins and Aaron Hicks, as well as an IL stint for Ryan Mountcastle as he battled vertigo.
That depth would once again be tested when Wednesday night Mountcastle would injure his left shoulder during an at-bat in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. He would leave two innings later with shoulder discomfort.
According to multiple industry sources, the Orioles have selected the contract of OF/1B Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk. The corresponding moves to both the 28-man and 40-man rosters have not yet been announced.
Kjerstad, who won the 2022 Arizona Fall League MVP, has been on fire through two levels (Double-A and Triple-A) of minor league ball this year. Across 122 games, Kjerstad slashed .303/.376/.528 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs. He has totaled 145 hits, including 29 doubles and eight triples, while scoring 87 runs and walking 42 times.
Kjerstad started playing first base this season, showing versatility and giving him more opportunities to benefit the big league club for years to come.
Drafted in 2020 as the No. 2 overall pick out of Arkansas, Kjerstad was considered the best pure hitter in the draft. Unfortunately, losing the 2020 season to COVID and 18 months to myocarditis delayed Kjerstad’s growth and development.
Now over a year returned, Kjerstad is going to get his cup of coffee in the midst of a postseason push. The 24-year-old’s power bat should fire up an O’s team heading into the biggest series in years for the club against the Tampa Bay Rays.
We will update this piece with the latest information as soon as we receive it.
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