Heston Kjerstad

Heston Sawyer Kjerstad (born February 12, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Kjerstad was selected second overall by the Orioles in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.

Heston Kjerstad
Kjerstad with the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2019
Baltimore Orioles – No. 75
Outfielder/First baseman
Born: (1999-02-12) February 12, 1999
Amarillo, Texas
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Amateur career

Kjerstad grew up in Amarillo, Texas and attended Randall High School.[1] As a junior, he batted .477 with 32 RBIs and was named the District 3-5A Most Valuable Player and first team All-State.[2] Kjerstad was named first team All-State and District 3-5A Most Valuable Player again as a senior.[3][4] He was drafted in the 36th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners, but opted to play college baseball at Arkansas instead.[5]

Kjerstad was a starting outfielder for the Razorbacks as a true freshman. He batted .332 with 30 extra base hits, 14 home runs, 58 RBIs and was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year, second team All-SEC and a freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.[6][7][8] He helped the team to the 2018 College World Series final and was named to the All-Tournament team.[9][10] As a sophomore, Kjerstad was again named second team All-SEC after batting .327 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI's.[11] During the summer, he played for the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team and batted .395 in 14 games.[12][13]

Kjerstad entered his junior season as a preseason first team All-American selection by Perfect Game and by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and as a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft.[14][15] He was named the SEC Player of the Week as well as the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball for the first week of the season after going 7 for 13 with four home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in the Razorbacks opening series against Eastern Illinois.[16][17] Kjerstad batted .448 with six home runs, 20 RBI's and 19 runs scored in 16 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[18]

Professional career

Kjerstad was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the second overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[19] Kjerstad signed with the Orioles on June 30, 2020 for a $5.2 million bonus.[20] Kjerstad developed myocarditis after signing and missed spring training and all of the 2021 season.[21]

After beginning the 2022 season in extended spring training, Kjerstad made his professional debut on June 10, 2022, for the Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds.[22] In early July, he was promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds after batting .463 with 37 hits and 17 RBIs in 22 games with Delmarva.[23] Kjerstad batted .233 average in 43 games playing for the IronBirds.[24]

Kjerstad played in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he batted .371/.400/.663, and led the league in at bats (89) and doubles (9), as he was second in strikeouts (27).[25] He was named to the Orioles' 2023 spring training roster as a non-roster invitee and batted .381 with four home runs in 23 games before being reassigned to minor league camp.[26] Kjerstad began the 2023 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and started playing first base in addition to outfield.[27]

References
  1. "College World Series dream come true for Randall's Kjerstad". Amarillo Globe-News. June 16, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  2. "Arkansas Baseball Lands 19 Prospects On Signing Day". 5NewsOnline.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  3. "TSWA All-State Baseball Teams". Waco Tribune-Herald. August 7, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  4. Ritter, Tim (June 7, 2017). "King, Kjerstad share District 3-5A MVP Award". Canyon News. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  5. Warren, Thomas (June 16, 2017). "Randall's Kjerstad Drafted by Mariners". The Amarillo Pioneer. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  6. "Heston Kjerstad named SEC Freshman of the Year". THV11.com. May 21, 2018.
  7. "Randall grad Kjerstad named to freshman squad on 2018 D1 baseball freshman All-America team". Amarillo Globe-News. July 5, 2018.
  8. Cooper, J. J. (June 18, 2018). "Arkansas' Freshmen Help Lead Razorbacks Past Texas". Baseball America. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  9. "No summer ball for Hogs' Kjerstad". WholeHogSports.com. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. July 11, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  10. "Former Randall star, Arkansas OF Kjerstad preps for second straight appearance at the College World Series". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. June 14, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. Roulier, Pete (July 4, 2019). "Kjerstad and Martin to focus on plate discipline next season". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  12. Roulier, Pete (July 22, 2019). "Kjerstad shines for Team USA". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  13. "Razorbacks' Kjerstad impacts Team USA squad". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. July 26, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  14. Roulier, Pete (January 21, 2020). "Kjerstad continues to rake in preseason honors". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  15. Callis, Jim (August 22, 2019). "These are the best college 2020 Draft prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  16. Roulier, Pete (February 17, 2020). "Razorback junior named National Player of the Week". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  17. Swofford, Bobby (February 16, 2020). "Kjerstad Belts Two More HR As Arkansas Sweeps Eastern Illinois". 5NewsOnline.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  18. Roulier, Pete (March 14, 2020). "Heston Kjerstad was enjoying phenomenal junior season". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  19. "Five things to know about Orioles' No. 2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad". Baltimore Sun. June 11, 2020.
  20. Trezza, Joe (July 1, 2020). "Orioles sign No. 2 overall pick Kjerstad". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. Trezzo, Joe (April 20, 2021). "Kjerstad to report to O's alt site (source)". MLB.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  22. "O's Kjerstad makes pro debut, collects 1st hit, after 2-year wait". MLB.com.
  23. "Heston Kjerstad earns first promotion after just 22 games". 11 July 2022.
  24. "Ten most interesting Orioles prospects to follow throughout minor leagues in 2023". Baltimore Sun. March 16, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  25. "The Official Site of Major League Baseball". MLB.com.
  26. "Hot-hitting Kjerstad sent to minors after Orioles' spring win over Blue Jays". CBS Baltimore. March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  27. Rill, Jake (April 9, 2023). "Kjerstad tries hand at first base in Double-A". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
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