Heston Kjerstad
25-Year-Old
2024 Stats
AVG
.000
HR
0
RBI
0
R
0
SB
0
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
Sent to Triple-A
The Orioles optioned Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kjerstad struggled to a .580 OPS in 18 spring games, so it's not a surprise he missed out on Baltimore's Opening Day roster given the club's strong group of position players. The 25-year-old had an .869 OPS in 76 contests at Norfolk last season and should receive another look with the Orioles at some point in 2024.
Kjerstad struggled to a .580 OPS in 18 spring games, so it's not a surprise he missed out on Baltimore's Opening Day roster given the club's strong group of position players. The 25-year-old had an .869 OPS in 76 contests at Norfolk last season and should receive another look with the Orioles at some point in 2024.
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2023
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
-100%
OPS vs RHP
2024
No Stats
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | ||||
Since 2022vs Right | .773 | 31 | 2 | 3 | .241 | ||||
2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
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
+37%
OPS at Home
2024
No Stats
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | .891 | 13 | 1 | 2 | .250 | ||||
Since 2022Away | .652 | 19 | 1 | 1 | .222 | ||||
2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
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
0.20BB Rate
6.3%K Rate
31.3%BABIP
.278ISO
.233AVG
.233OBP
.281SLG
.467OPS
.748wOBA
.325Exit Velocity
92.3 mphHard Hit Rate
40.0%Barrels/PA
12.1%Expected BA
.268Expected SLG
.551Sprint Speed
24.2 ft/secGround Ball %
30.0%Line Drive %
25.0%Fly Ball %
45.0%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Heston Kjerstad See More
James Anderson breaks down which top-100 prospects will reach the majors this year and when we will see them, including Rangers phenom Wyatt Langford.
Ryan Boyer breaks down every job that's up for grabs in the AL East this spring, including a pair of spots in the Orioles' infield.
James Anderson releases volume 2.0 of his rookie hitter tiers for 2024 fantasy value only, in which Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte remains in the top spot.
Nick Pivetta, no stranger to generating divisive opinions, features in the latest edition of Jason Collette's Bold Predictions series.
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
Struggling to begin spring
Kjerstad has gone 2-for-14 over his first five Grapefruit League games.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Receives spot on ALDS roster
Kjerstad is on the Orioles' roster for their ALDS matchup against the Rangers, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Takes seat Saturday
Kjerstad isn't in the Orioles' lineup Saturday versus the Guardians, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Taking seat Thursday
Kjerstad is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Cleveland.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Clubs second homer
Kjerstad went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-5 win over the Astros.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.