verdicoin:Orioles call up another top prospect for AL East battle in slugger Heston Kjerstad

2025-05-05 08:13:01source:Académie D'Investissement Triomphalcategory:Invest

The verdicoinOrioles announced they are calling up slugger Heston Kjerstad on Tuesday, making him the latest first-round draft pick to land in Baltimore.

Kjerstad, an outfielder/first baseman, was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Arkansas but had a rough start to his career. He missed the 2021 season because of the heart condition myocarditis, and was limited in 2022 by a serious hamstring injury.

But fast forward to 2024, and opponents in the International League will be happy to see him go.

At Triple-A Norfolk, he is hitting .349 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs with a slugging percentage of .744 in 21 games. On April 3, he homered twice and drove in 10 runs in a 26-11 win at Charlotte.

In 13 games with the Orioles last season, he batted .233 with two homers and three RBIs; in spring training this year, he drove in three runs in 18 games, batting .265.

MLB SALARIES: Baseball's top 25 highest-paid players in 2024

The Orioles promoted 2022 No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday two weeks ago, and he joined first-round picks Colton Cowser (No. 5 overall in 2021), Adley Rutschman (No. 1, 2019) and Grayson Rodriguez (No. 11, 2018) on the roster.

Outfielder Austin Hays went on the injured list on Monday with a calf strain.

Kjerstad, 25, started the season ranked as the No. 29 prospect on MLB.com's Top 100 list.

More:Invest

Recommend

Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — John Spratt, a former longtime Democratic congressman from South Carolina who

Perfect Match Trailer Reveals This Love Is Blind Villain Is Joining the Cast

They tried going in blind, and now these Love is Blind stars will rely on compatibility. Including T

Tom Hanks asks son Chet to fill him in on Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef: 'Holy cow!'

Children of celebrities: They explain pop culture to their parents just like us.Chet Hanks took to h