Baltimore Orioles Center Fielder Heston Kjerstad is finding his footing in the big leagues over his last 10 games. The rookie is hitting .367 with three home runs and 12 RBI over his last 10 games. Kjerstad made his season debut on April 23 and struggled in his first action of 2024 hitting a paltry.142 with no home runs or RBI. He was sent back down to AAA on May 13.
Nearly two months back in the minor leagues has done wonders for Kjerstad. In his first game back on June 24 against the Cleveland Guardians, Kjerstad went 2-of-4 and notched the first XBH of his career. He then hit back-to-back homers on June 27 and 29 against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.
Kjerstad is hitting .295 this season with three home runs and 12 RBI. Will he be able to keep up this torrid pace in the second half of the 2024 regular season?
Heston Kjerstad Career Summary
Heston Kjerstad in 10 games since being recalled to the @Orioles 🔥
.367/.441/.733
3 HR
12 RBI pic.twitter.com/IYxv1a4u1z— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 9, 2024
Kjerstad was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of Arkansas. He made his MLB debut on September 14, 2023, and fared much like he did to begin his 2024 campaign. He hit .259 with two home runs and three RBI last season.
Kjerstad is a career .270 hitter with five home runs and 15 RBI.
Baltimore Orioles Season Summary
The Baltimore Orioles(57-33) have had an extremely successful first half of the 2024 season. They hold a three-game lead in the American League East and have the second-best record in Major League Baseball. They trail the Philadelphia Phillies by only one game for the league’s best record. Baltimore has been powered by one of the best offenses in the league this season. They are sixth in batting average, are leading the league in home runs, and are first in the league in runs scored.
Their offense is paced by Shortstop Gunnar Henderson. He is eighth in the league in batting average, third in home runs, ninth in RBI, and third in OPS. He has also committed to participate in the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. The Baltimore pitching staff has also been great this season. They are fourth in ERA, fourth in opposing batting average, and fourth in WHIP.
Starting Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is tied for the league lead in wins with 11 while Corbin Burnes is top 10 in the league in wins and ERA. The backend of the Baltimore Orioles bullpen has been spectacular this season as well. Closer Craig Kimbrel is third in the league with 23 saves and Relief Pitcher Yennier Cano is fourth in the league with 23 holds.
Orioles Upcoming Schedule
The Baltimore Orioles have a six-game homestand to close out the first half of the season. They begin a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs tonight before hosting the New York Yankees for a three-game set beginning on Friday. Baltimore has overtaken New York for first place in the division due to these two ballclubs going in opposite directions. The Orioles are 8-3 over their last 11 games while the Yankees are 3-8.
Kjerstad will look to continue his hot streak at the plate and finish the first half of the season strong. The Baltimore Orioles have the makings of a ballclub that can make a deep run in the 2024 MLB Playoffs. Kjerstad will be a big part of the Orioles late in the 2024 season.
