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Heston Kjerstad

#2 | RF | OriolesBAL
Bowie Baysox Bowie Baysox
Heston Kjerstad
Name: Heston Sawyer Kjerstad
Born: Feb 12, 1999 in Amarillo, TX
College: Arkansas
High School: Randall HS, Amarillo, Texas
Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: R
 ABAVGOBPSLGHR
2023171.298.372.56110
Career414.304.385.50015
Drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2020 (signed for $5,200,000)
While the shortened 2020 season impacts every player, Kjerstad might be one of the least negatively impacted players outside of the top five draft prospects. The Arkansas outfielder has a long track record of hitting for average and power, both in the Southeastern Conference and with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. Kjerstad hit .395/.426/.651 to lead Team USA in all three slash line categories last summer, with three doubles, a triple and two home runs in 14 games. He hit better than .330/.400/.550 in each of his first two seasons at Arkansas and was off to another hot start in his junior campaign before the season shut down. Kjerstad is a potential middle-of-the-order hitter with plus raw power and the ability to leave a ballpark in any direction. He can change games with one swing and brings premium lefthanded power to a lineup. Kjerstad's swing is a bit unorthodox, with a pause and big leg kick that interrupts his timing, which has led to more strikeouts than evaluators would optimally like. While Kjerstad cut his strikeout rate in a small sample size this spring, teams believe he may always strike out at an elevated rate. Kjerstad is a decent athlete for his size, but it would be optimistic to expect more than adequate defense from him in left or right field. He has a solid, accurate throwing arm. Most of Kjerstad's value is tied to his bat. He should be drafted at some point in the middle of the first round.
Career Statistics
  • Career Statistics
  • 2023 Game Logs
  • 2023 Splits
  • Spring Training
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Split TypeAVGGABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOOBPSLGOPS
Split TypeWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOAVGOBPSLGWHIP
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