Put down your panic buttons, everyone. The Orioles made a roster move.
Heston Kjerstad finally got the call back to the majors and made his return from Triple-A Norfolk in the first game of the Guardians series.
A nice welcome back for the O’s No. 4 prospect and the city of Baltimore, Kjerstad batted fifth in the lineup, and man, did he look comfortable. He brought his aggressive approach from Norfolk right to the main show.
The first pitch Kjerstad saw from right-hander Tanner Bibee resulted in a double on a ground ball to right fielder Will Brennan.
Lucky for the Birds, he didn’t stop there. In his second at-bat, the 25-year-old goes 2-for-2, singling on a line drive to left fielder Steven Kwan, again, on the first pitch.
In his third at-bat, a pop out on a 2-2 count to shortstop Gabriel Arias results his first out.
For his fourth and final at-bat of the evening, Silent J took his time with right-hander Hunter Gaddis. On the 13th pitch he saw, Kjerstad flew out to center fielder Daniel Schneemann. It was extremely disappointing for such an incredible battle to end that way, but he did his job tiring out Gaddis, who likely now won’t be available tomorrow.
It was a quiet night in left field but still, an impact was made. Kjerstad put away a flyout from José Ramírez and had a sharp line drive from David Fry hit to him, as he made a strong throw to second base.
No errors, no complaints. He also made a great throw, cutting a ball off that almost threw a runner out going for second on a double.
Overall, it was a very promising evening both offensively and defensively, as Kjerstad displayed the utmost confidence and composure in both areas. There was so much growth from his previous 17 plate appearances this season.
In a time when the Orioles are struggling to get runs across the plate, Kjerstad was a positive, collecting half of the team’s hits.
So, from here, do we let him start, Birdland? I say he’s earned it. Consistent at-bats will determine how good he truly performs. Coming up and riding bench will only hurt a young player.
Give Silent J consistent at-bats, and I’m sure we’ll be more than pleased. The Orioles have a GOOD problem in having a ridiculously packed group of young talent. Let’s not forget that.
What are your thoughts on Kjerstad and his performance tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment