Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day IL with a left calf strain on Monday. This made way for Heston Kjerstad to be called up from the AAA Norfolk Tides late Monday night. As Kjerstad is both a corner outfielder as well as a first baseman, he is a strong replacement for Hays.
Kjerstad made his major league debut on September 14th, 2023, where he played in 13 games and had 33 plate appearances with an average of .233 and an OPS of .748. He had two home runs and 3 RBIs. Kjerstad has dominated with the Tides so far this season, with a batting average of .349 and an OPS of 1.175. He is the Orioles’ 4th prospect, but may not receive a lot of playing time due to the Orioles’ strong outfield and first baseman once more players are healthy.
The 25-year old received an invite to spring training and played in both 2023 and 2024, but had to miss 2022 due to a hamstring injury. This spring training, he hit .265 in 49 at bats. He received a spot on the 40-man roster, but has not been placed on the 26-man roster until Monday.
Kjerstad will likely be in the starting lineup in place of Hays Tuesday night as the Orioles face the Angels in game 2 of their three game series. Kjerstad has the opportunity to have a solid spot on the team, replacing Hays, who has been struggling at the plate. Although Hays most likely will not be on the IL for long, he is batting .111, with just 5 hits over 45 at bats. His numbers improved right before his injury, as he batted .231 over his last 7 games. Kjerstad and Hays will be battling for consistent playing time over the next few weeks.
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