The Baltimore Orioles continue to make moves as they prepare for the 2027 season.
With the offseason officially underway, the organization has made two more decisions regarding its roster, moving on from a pair of former first-round draft picks.
The Orioles have declined first baseman Ryan Mountcastle‘s $7.5 million club option for the 2027 season, making him a free agent. Additionally, Baltimore had placed outfielder Heston Kjerstad on waivers. After clearing waivers, Kjerstad was granted his release, officially ending his time with the organization.
For Mountcastle, this marks the end of a seven-year major-league career in Baltimore. Selected by the Orioles with the 36th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, Mountcastle worked his way through the organization’s minor-league system before making his debut in August of 2020.
Mountcastle quickly established himself as a productive power hitter in Baltimore’s lineup. In 2021, he hit 33 home runs and drove in 89 runs while finishing sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. His 33 home runs also established a new Orioles rookie record, surpassing the previous mark of 28 set by Cal Ripken Jr.
Over seven seasons with Baltimore, Mountcastle appeared in 660 games, hitting .263/.312/.438 with 98 home runs, 126 doubles and 364 RBIs. He also became a reliable defensive presence at first base, earning consideration as a Gold Glove finalist in multiple seasons.
However, the last few years have been difficult for Mountcastle. Injuries limited him to 89 games in 2025 and just eight games in 2026. After fracturing a bone in his foot in April, Mountcastle suffered an oblique strain while preparing to begin a rehab assignment in July, effectively ending his season.
There is also the question of where Mountcastle would have fit into Baltimore’s plans moving forward. With Pete Alonso occupying first base after signing a five-year, $155 million contract last offseason, opportunities for Mounty became increasingly limited. The emergence of Coby Mayo and the addition of Christian Encarnacion-Strand also provided the Orioles with other options at first base and designated hitter.
The other notable move involves Heston Kjerstad, whose time with the Orioles organization has also come to an end.
Selected with the second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Kjerstad was once viewed as a major piece of Baltimore’s future. His professional career got off to a difficult start after he was diagnosed with myocarditis, delaying his development and keeping him away from the field for an extended period.
Kjerstad eventually worked his way through the minor leagues and became one of the organization’s most highly-regarded prospects. He participated in the 2023 Futures Game and entered the 2024 season as a consensus top-100 prospect in baseball.
Despite that potential, Kjerstad struggled to establish himself at the big-league level. Across four seasons with Baltimore, he hit .217/.280/.359, recording an 81 OPS+ while struggling to find consistent playing time and production.
The 2026 season did little to change his standing within the organization. Although Kjerstad continued to show offensive ability at Triple-A Norfolk, where he hit .289/.337/.462, he was unable to translate that production into a consistent role.
At 27 years old, Kjerstad will now have an opportunity to find a fresh start elsewhere. Given his draft pedigree, age and previous prospect status, another organization could be willing to give him an opportunity to rediscover the potential that made him one of the top selections in the 2020 draft.
These decisions represent another changing of the guard for an Orioles organization that is looking to reshape its roster following another disappointing season. Mountcastle was part of the group that helped Baltimore transition from a rebuilding organization into a playoff contender, while Kjerstad represented the highly-touted young talent that was expected to keep that competitive window open.
Neither player ultimately became the long-term piece Baltimore once envisioned, and the organization has decided it is time to move in a different direction.
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