Orioles Release Heston Kjerstad

The Baltimore Orioles have released outfielder Heston Kjerstad, sending him to the free agent market after he cleared outright waivers. This decision marks a difficult end for the 27-year-old player following his selection as the second overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Kjerstad's performance has fallen significantly below expectations since joining the organization. He missed the entire 2021 season due to myocarditis, which delayed his major league debut until late 2023. Since then, he has posted a meek batting average of .217 with an on-base plus slugging total of .589 and a modest 80 wRC+ over 333 plate appearances.

His struggles continued in the 2025 season when he recorded just five home runs and hit only .192. Although Kjerstad missed two months that year with an unspecified medical condition, including a hamstring strain in March, his health improved for Spring Training. He spent most of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Norfolk before being recalled briefly in September.

While he posted stronger numbers (.289 average) while playing for Norfolk, Kjerstad was unable to secure extended major league time. The team designated him for assignment earlier this year after his performance remained subpar and inconsistent.