The Baltimore Orioles demoted Heston Kjerstad.
The Baltimore Orioles are fighting to keep their season alive, and that urgency just cost a former top pick his roster spot. Baltimore optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad back to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday. President of baseball operations Mike Elias addressed the 27-year-old’s cloudy future with the club when speaking with reporters. He framed the move as a numbers decision rather than a final verdict on the player.
"Yeah, it's been a difficult road for him. He's missed a lot of time. But he's a very talented player, and he's got a really good bat. ... He's still in the forefront of his career,” Elias said, via Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun.
The demotion still stings given how long it has taken Kjerstad to develop. He was drafted second overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, billed as the left-handed power bat to anchor Baltimore’s rebuild. Six years later, he is still stuck between Triple-A and the back of a big-league bench.
Across parts of four MLB seasons, Kjerstad owns a .217 average with just 10 home runs and 38 RBIs in 304 at-bats, spread over only 117 career games.
He hit just .192 in 2025 through 54 games. In 11 games this year, he has hit just .211 with a .474 OPS. In MLB, he has been a disaster at the plate.
At Triple-A Norfolk, though, he has played better. He has eight home runs there this year and has produced. The problem is that it has never translated to the big leagues.
Injuries have played a role in his professional career. Myocarditis, a heart inflammation diagnosed after the draft, wiped out most of his first two professional seasons. Another undisclosed medical issue ended his 2025 season early.
After that, a hamstring strain cost him the start of 2026, and he did not return until late May. He then did not reach the majors until rosters expanded in September.
Entering the final seven games at 75-78, the Orioles are now four games back of the final American League wild card spot. They are most likely missing the playoffs, with or without Kjerstad.
Kjerstad is out of minor-league options in 2027. That leaves Baltimore two choices: carry him on the major-league roster or risk losing him to waivers. A crowded outfield will make that a difficult choice moving forward. A fresh start elsewhere may end up being the best path forward.
