The final month of the regular season begins tonight, which means roster moves have been made.
As the Baltimore Orioles make their final push for the postseason, they have added two players to the roster as September call-ups. Those players are outfielder Heston Kjerstad and left-hander Luis De León.
Kjerstad is no stranger to playing Orioles baseball in September. He made his MLB debut on September 14, 2023, and has appeared in 106 big-league games throughout his career, slashing .218/.284/.365 with a .649 OPS and collecting 62 hits, eight doubles, two triples and 10 home runs.
This season, however, Kjerstad has been a major contributor to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides offense. In 81 games in the minors this season, he is batting .287 with a .790 OPS and has recorded 88 hits between Norfolk and a rehab stint with Double-A Chesapeake, along with 17 doubles, one triple and 11 home runs.
Kjerstad provides the Orioles with additional depth at both corner outfield spots and first base if needed, while giving the lineup another left-handed power option for the final month of the season.
Twenty-three-year-old left-hander Luis De León has officially gotten the call to the big leagues. Originally signed by the Orioles in 2021, De León has been a consistent starter throughout his professional career. From 2022-2025, he posted a 3.69 career ERA while averaging around 81 strikeouts per season.
Things changed in 2026, however, as the Orioles decided earlier this month to transition De León into a full-time reliever.
De León owns a 4.73 ERA this season while pitching a career-high 99 innings. He has allowed 93 hits and 52 earned runs, while walking 53 and striking out 121. All four marks are career-highs.
De León gives the Orioles another big left-handed arm in the bullpen, an area where the team has been limited throughout the season. With a postseason push ahead, his ability to provide another left-handed option could prove valuable down the stretch.
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