10-Day IL
Injury Concussion
Est. Return 9/17/2024
2024 Stats
AVG
.261
HR
3
RBI
12
R
6
SB
1
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Kjerstad made a strong first impression in the majors late last season, but unfortunately he's only eligible in the utility spot to start 2024 in most fantasy leagues. A money-saving pick at No. 2 overall in 2020, Kjerstad famously didn't make his pro debut until midway through the 2022 season due primarily to a heart inflammation condition. He won the Arizona Fall League home run derby after the 2022 season and then slashed .303/.376/.528 with 21 home runs in 122 games across Double-A and Triple-A before getting a brief cup of coffee. While he is limited defensively to designated hitter, first base and occasional corner-outfield work, Kjerstad's bat should be good enough to profile at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. He had a 113.5 mph max exit velocity at Triple-A and a 105.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and then logged a 19.0 Barrel% and a 52.4% Statcast hard-hit rate in 21 batted-ball events in the majors. He didn't show significant lefty/righty splits last year, but Baltimore has a talented enough roster that the lefty-hitting Kjerstad may still sit against some lefties when he's in the majors. However, Oriole Park at Camden Yards plays much better for lefties than righties, so he should be able to hit for plenty of power, even if he's getting platooned. The stacked 40-man roster clouds Kjerstad's playing time outlook at the outset of 2024. Read Past Outlooks
Starts up rehab at High-A
Kjerstad (concussion) began a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Saturday and has gone 2-for-5 with a walk and a run over his first two contests with the affiliate.
ANALYSIS
Kjerstad served as Aberdeen's designated hitter Saturday, then played five innings in right field Sunday. He'll likely remain in the minors during the upcoming week as he looks to regain his timing at the plate while he's been sidelined since late July while recovering from a concussion. Once Kjerstad is activated from the 10-day injured list, the Orioles may not have regular playing time available for him at the big-league level, so he could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Kjerstad served as Aberdeen's designated hitter Saturday, then played five innings in right field Sunday. He'll likely remain in the minors during the upcoming week as he looks to regain his timing at the plate while he's been sidelined since late July while recovering from a concussion. Once Kjerstad is activated from the 10-day injured list, the Orioles may not have regular playing time available for him at the big-league level, so he could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Batting Stats
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2024
2023
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
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1
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
+6%
OPS vs LHP
2024
+16%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .818 | 11 | 0 | 2 | .364 | ||||
| Since 2022vs Right | .775 | 102 | 5 | 13 | .239 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | .900 | 10 | 0 | 2 | .400 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | .773 | 71 | 3 | 10 | .237 | ||||
| 2023vs Left | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | ||||
| 2023vs Right | .773 | 31 | 2 | 3 | .241 | ||||
| 2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
+44%
OPS at Home
2024
+49%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | .906 | 62 | 3 | 10 | .296 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | .627 | 51 | 2 | 5 | .200 | ||||
| 2024Home | .908 | 49 | 2 | 8 | .310 | ||||
| 2024Away | .609 | 32 | 1 | 4 | .185 | ||||
| 2023Home | .891 | 13 | 1 | 2 | .250 | ||||
| 2023Away | .652 | 19 | 1 | 1 | .222 | ||||
| 2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Heston Kjerstad compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.38BB Rate
11.1%K Rate
29.6%BABIP
.357ISO
.159AVG
.261OBP
.370SLG
.420OPS
.791wOBA
.347Exit Velocity
89.6 mphHard Hit Rate
26.7%Barrels/PA
3.7%Expected BA
.206Expected SLG
.350Sprint Speed
25.3 ft/secGround Ball %
42.2%Line Drive %
20.0%Fly Ball %
37.8%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
There's a feel-good element to Kjerstad's 2022 season. He was selected by Baltimore with the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, but a heart condition sidelined him through the 2021 season and he missed the first two months of last season with hamstring strain before finally making his pro debut in June. Kjerstad did what he needed to do as a 23-year-old at Single-A, logging a 228 wRC+ and quickly forcing a promotion to High-A. His 25.3 K% and 71.2 Contact% at High-A are concerning marks, given his age and pedigree. We can forgive his limited power output somewhat given how much Aberdeen suppresses home runs, but the hit tool concerns are real. He made noise in the Arizona Fall League with a .357 average, five home runs, a runner-up finish in the home run derby and the league MVP award, but his 30.0 K% and 4.8 BB% against mediocre AFL pitching is quite worrisome. Kjerstad has legitimate excuses for the fact he will be old for the remaining minor-league levels he will play at, but it's possible, if not probable that he will be overmatched as a 24-year-old at Double-A.
More Fantasy News
Clears concussion protocol
Kjerstad has cleared concussion protocol and is ramping up his activities, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
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Rehab games coming next week
Kjerstad (concussion) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Sept. 10 or shortly thereafter, Danielle Allentuck and Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner report.
ANALYSIS
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Beginning activities
Manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Kjerstad (concussion) has begun to ramp up baseball activities, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
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Option reversed, goes on IL
The Orioles reversed Kjerstad's option to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday and placed him on the 10-day injured list with a concussion.
ANALYSIS
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Sent down to minors
The Orioles optioned Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Promotion coming?
The Orioles are expected to promote Kjerstad to the major leagues after Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list with a calf injury, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kjerstad has been tearing it up at Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .349 with 10 homers, 30 RBI, one stolen base and 25 runs over 86 at-bats. The club is hopeful that Hays will be able to return from the injured list following the 10-day minimum, so this could be a brief promotion for the 25-year-old if the team does ultimately decide to bring him up.
Kjerstad has been tearing it up at Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .349 with 10 homers, 30 RBI, one stolen base and 25 runs over 86 at-bats. The club is hopeful that Hays will be able to return from the injured list following the 10-day minimum, so this could be a brief promotion for the 25-year-old if the team does ultimately decide to bring him up.