Heston Kjerstad Bio
Heston Sawyer Kjerstad is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. The Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round with the second overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft and he made his major league debut in 2023. Born in Amarillo, Texas, Kjerstad earned the nickname “Silent J” because of the pronunciation of his surname. He developed into a power hitter during his college career at the University of Arkansas before beginning his professional journey through the Orioles minor league system.
Early Life and Background
Heston Kjerstad grew up in Amarillo, Texas, where he attended Randall High School. During his junior year of high school, he established himself as one of the top prep players in the state by batting .477 with 32 runs batted in. His outstanding performance earned him district most valuable player honors and a spot on the first team All-State roster. Kjerstad continued to dominate as a senior, repeating both the first team All-State selection and the district MVP award.
Despite receiving interest from professional teams, Kjerstad opted to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the 36th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose to play for the University of Arkansas instead of signing with the club.
College Career at University of Arkansas
Kjerstad became a starting outfielder for the Arkansas Razorbacks as a freshman and immediately made an impact at the college level. He batted .332 with 30 extra base hits, 14 home runs, and 58 runs batted in during his inaugural season. His exceptional performance earned him Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors, a spot on the second team All-SEC roster, and freshman All-American recognition from both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He helped guide the Razorbacks to the 2018 College World Series final and was named to the All-Tournament team for his contributions during the championship run.
As a sophomore, Kjerstad continued his strong play by batting .327 with 17 home runs and 51 runs batted in, earning another second team All-SEC selection. During the summer months, he represented the United States on the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team, where he batted .395 in 14 games. Entering his junior season, Kjerstad received preseason first team All-American honors from Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper while being projected as a top prospect for the 2020 MLB draft. He was named SEC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week after hitting .538 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, and six runs scored in the opening series against Eastern Illinois. The season was ultimately cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Kjerstad had managed to bat .448 with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and 19 runs scored in just 16 games.
Heston Kjerstad Career
Minor League Development (2022-2023)
The Baltimore Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round with the second overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft. He signed with the organization on June 30, 2020, for a $5.2 million signing bonus. However, his professional debut was delayed after he developed myocarditis following his signing, causing him to miss spring training and the entire 2021 season. This health issue represented a significant setback in his early professional career.
After completing extended spring training in 2022, Kjerstad made his professional debut on June 10 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He demonstrated his hitting ability immediately, batting .463 with 37 hits and 17 RBIs in 22 games before earning a promotion to High-A Aberdeen IronBirds in early July. With Aberdeen, he appeared in 43 games and batted .233 with a .312 on-base percentage and .362 slugging percentage in 163 at-bats. Following the minor league season, Kjerstad played in the Arizona Fall League where he excelled by batting .371 with a .400 on-base percentage and .663 slugging percentage. He led the league in at-bats with 89 and doubles with 9 while ranking second in strikeouts with 27.
Baltimore Orioles Breakthrough (2023-Present)
The Orioles invited Kjerstad to spring training in 2023 as a non-roster player, and he impressed by batting .381 with four home runs in 23 games before being reassigned to minor league camp to begin the season. He started the year with the Double-A Bowie Baysox while also expanding his defensive capabilities by playing first base in addition to his outfield position. Kjerstad hit .310 with a .383 on-base percentage and .576 slugging percentage, ranking among the Eastern League leaders in batting average, slugging, on-base plus slugging, triples, home runs, extra-base hits, and hits before his promotion to Triple-A Norfolk Tides on June 5.
Four days later, on June 9, Kjerstad hit his first Triple-A home run as a leadoff inside-the-park shot in the seventh inning of an 8-4 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He was selected to play in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, showcasing his talents among the top prospects in baseball. Between Bowie and Norfolk, he combined to bat .303 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs in 122 games. On September 14, 2023, the Orioles selected him to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the majors for the first time following an injury to Ryan Mountcastle.
Kjerstad made his MLB debut that evening, striking out as a pinch hitter in an 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The following night on September 15, he recorded his first major league hit when he ended Zach Eflin’s no-hit bid with a leadoff home run to right-center field in the sixth inning during a 7-1 loss. In 13 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .233 with a .281 on-base percentage and .467 slugging percentage, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs.
Playing Style and Position
Kjerstad serves as both an outfielder and first baseman for the Orioles organization. His primary offensive tool is his power-hitting ability from the left side of the plate. He has demonstrated the capacity to drive the ball to all fields while showing particular strength when pulling the ball. His versatility defensively, being able to play multiple positions, provides the team with valuable roster flexibility.
Notable Milestones
Among his most memorable professional moments, Kjerstad’s first MLB home run stands out as particularly significant given that it came as a pinch-hitter breaking up a potential no-hitter. During the 2024 season, he set a single-game Norfolk Tides record with 10 RBIs in a 26-11 victory over the Charlotte Knights on April 3, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs, and four runs scored. Later that season on June 29, he hit his first major league grand slam, driving a pitch over the center-field wall off Michael Lorenzen with two outs in the fifth inning of a 6-5 home win against the Texas Rangers.
Heston Kjerstad Career Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Kjerstad has appeared in 56 major league games with the Baltimore Orioles, compiling a career batting average of .218 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. In the minor leagues during his development, he showcased his potential by hitting .303 combined between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs across 122 games. His Arizona Fall League performance in 2022 demonstrated his ability to make adjustments, as he led the league in at-bats and doubles while posting a .371 batting average.
College and Amateur Achievements
Before turning professional, Kjerstad built an impressive amateur resume highlighted by his SEC Freshman of the Year award in 2018. He was a two-time second team All-SEC selection and earned a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament team. His summer stint with Team USA further demonstrated his abilities at an elite level, as he posted a .395 batting average in limited action. During his abbreviated junior season in 2020, he was on pace for exceptional numbers before the pandemic ended the campaign early.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a continued step in Kjerstad’s development as he worked toward establishing himself as a regular contributor at the major league level. He appeared in 43 games with the Orioles during the campaign, demonstrating the power potential that made him a top draft pick while continuing to refine his approach at the plate. His ability to play both corner outfield positions and first base provided the organization with defensive versatility off the bench. The Orioles continued to view Kjerstad as an important part of their future, balancing his development with opportunities to contribute at the highest level. His career statistics through 2025 showed 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 56 major league games, with a .218 batting average indicating the adjustments still being made as he adapts to big league pitching.