The Orioles, looking to bolster a struggling outfield rotation, recalled Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk June 24. The No. 2 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft and the team’s No. 4 prospect, Kjerstad was tearing it up for the Tides, boasting a .300 batting average with 16 home runs in 56 games this season.
The move marks Kjerstad’s second stint in the majors this season. He was previously called up to the Orioles on April 23 but got just 14 at-bats before getting sent back to Triple-A May 13. The question remains, where will Kjerstad’s playing time come from this time around?
Colton Cowser has struggled since a red-hot start to the year — he hit .303 with six home runs in 28 games during March and April but has hit just .184 with four home runs in 47 games since. Cowser does have the ability to play all three outfield options, logging 45 games in left field, 20 in center and 16 in right so far this season.
After struggling in March and April, Austin Hays has played well since coming off the 10-day injured list May 13. Hays is batting .356 with three home runs and five doubles in 17 games in June. And Anthony Santander has come on strong in June as well, batting .274 and hitting a MLB-leading 12 home runs this month.
Cedric Mullins is batting just .208 this season but remains a defensive asset in center field. The other outfield options currently on the Orioles’ roster include Ryan O’Hearn (10 games RF, 5 games LF this season) and Jorge Mateo (4 games CF).
With no clear option to send to the bench, finding at-bats for Kjerstad could be a struggle for manager Brandon Hyde. Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Bordick thinks the best way to foster Kjerstad’s success is to use him only where he excels most: against right-handed pitching. He has pounded right-handers to the tune of a 1.083 OPS in Triple-A Norfolk, as compared to a .776 OPS against lefties.
“They just need a little extra offensively,” Bordick said on Glenn Clark Radio on June 24. “They’re willing to take the chance and see if Kjerstad can play defense in the big leagues, because I will say this: I like Cowser, I think he’s great, but defensively he’s not as good as advertised right now in the big leagues. He’s got a strong arm, but God dang it’s not very accurate.
“I think they should take a chance on Kjerstad because his bat, when it gets going, that could really help this offense stay a little bit more consistent,” Bordick added. “You see what they do when more guys are contributing.”
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Kjerstad is a bigger unknown on the defensive side — a clear-cut strength of Baltimore’s outfield. In a tight division race with the Yankees, the Orioles can’t risk letting games slip away due to defense, Bordick said.
“There are some people that are pulling for him to have a shot because he can contribute so much offensively, but I think there are other people that are a little tentative and saying, ‘Listen, if we lose a game because of our defense that it’s just not a good thing,'” Bordick said. “Extra opportunities always come back to haunt you.”
Bordick also believes Kjerstad could be a valuable asset at the looming MLB trade deadline and calling him up now is an opportunity to showcase what Kjerstad can do.
“Possible trade partners, they just want to see a little bit more at the major league level,” Bordick said.
Bordick says the Orioles need to be aggressive in acquiring proven talent, especially pitching. John Means, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish are all out for the season. Dean Kremer is still working his way back from a right triceps strain, and reliever Danny Coulombe is out until at least September following an elbow operation.
In the seven games since June 19, the day Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery, the Orioles have posted a dismal 6.79 team ERA.
“One week we were feeling so good about the depth that separated this organization, and now there’s no depth,” Bordick said. “There’s absolutely no depth. And I feel this anxiety about not enough arms in this organization right now.
“Some of these teams are going to wait to the end and try to land the best deal,” he added. “The Orioles are in a great position to be more aggressive than these guys and say ‘Let’s go, the time is now.’ There’s got to be an urgency about this winning. … There are arms out there and deals to be made.”
For more from Bordick, listen to the full interview here:
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