If the O’s want Kjerstad to play over Hays, they’ll find a way to do that. They will NOT do it by optioning Hays to the minor leagues at this point. Won’t. Happen.
But by the way, Hays was a finalist for MiL player of the year in 2017, so I don’t buy the premise that Kjerstad is performing better than Hays ever did. Among other things, Hays was a very good two-way player. Kjerstad has a questionable glove.