The current Orioles’ lineup appears strong, but brace yourself for an improvement. According to The Baltimore Sun, the team will be promoting power-hitting outfielder Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk today to fill in for the injured Austin Hays, who suffered a left calf strain.
Considering his exceptional performance in the minors, it’s challenging to identify any other player more worthy of a promotion than Kjerstad. He has been dominating in Triple-A Norfolk, with a .349/.431/.744 slash line, 10 home runs, and 30 RBIs in just 21 games. In most other organizations, he would have been in the majors much earlier. However, the Orioles’ lineup is highly competitive, making it challenging for newcomers. Nevertheless, Kjerstad now has the opportunity to join the majors, albeit due to an unfortunate injury.
When the Orioles announced Hays’ IL placement, some anticipated the call-up of Ryan McKenna, a right-handed hitter like Hays, to maintain the outfield rotation with Cowser, Mullins, and Santander. However, Kjerstad, despite being a left-handed batter, displayed such impressive performance that he couldn’t be overlooked. It will be intriguing to observe how Brandon Hyde incorporates Kjerstad into the lineup. Initially, he might see playing time as a designated hitter, potentially filling in for Ryan Mountcastle, who was sidelined in the previous game due to knee discomfort.
The Orioles’ lineup has been performing exceptionally well this season, and with the addition of another talented player, they are set to become even more formidable. This promises to be an exciting development.
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