BALTIMORE–Heston Kjerstad was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list just before Saturday’s Orioles game against the New York Yankees.
Kjerstad was originally in the Orioles’ lineup and playing left field a day after he was hit on the helmet in the ninth inning of Friday’s game by New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes. Kjerstad was hit squarely on the right side of the helmet, near the ear flap, and fell to the ground. He was scratched from the Orioles’ lineup on Saturday after he went on the field for pregame drills and didn’t feel 100 percent.
To replace Kjerstad on the roster, the Orioles recalled outfielder Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk.
Stowers has hit .286 with a home run and nine RBIs in 17 games with the Orioles this season. At Norfolk, he was hitting .235 with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde discussed Kjerstad’s status before he was placed on the injured list.
“He got evaluated last night. He went through a bunch of tests this morning,” Hyde said. “He’s medically cleared to play. It’s incredible. He wants to play, and he feels great, so he’s in there again today.”
But Hyde removed Kjerstad from the lineup after the drills. The Orioles then decided he should go on the injured list. He’d be eligible to play again on July 20th, the second game after the All-Star break. Kjerstad had to leave Friday’s game after getting hit on the helmet, with Austin Hays going in as a pinch-runner.
After Kjerstad was struck, Hyde and the Yankees’ bench yelled at each other. Hyde went toward the Yankees’ dugout and both teams ran onto the field from the dugouts and bullpens. Hyde also yelled at Holmes. No punches were thrown and order was quickly restored.
“I was emotional. My guy got hit in the head, and I might have said some things at the time. I reacted to it,” Hyde said. “That’s the way it is.”