Heston Kjerstad 2024

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

2 hours ago, SteveA said:

Maybe he was in a situation where he had cleared concussion protocol, but still kind of felt "off" some days and great the others.   Rather than IL him, they could send him down and let him play when he feels OK and sit when he doesn't, without hurting the big league team?

I don't know, must speculation.   There's something going on and it's not just that he's fallen out of favor or something.  

As we saw with Brian Roberts the effects of a concussion can linger for a long time and Kjerstad got hit with a mid 90's fastball right to the head. There's a chance Kjerstad might not be right until next season. If he isn't back in September that's a bad sign.

I hope it isn't this, but there's reason to be concerned.

[drjohnnyfever1]

11 hours ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

Can Eloy field a position, any position?  If he's just a part time DH, he really limits the team and is very overpriced at $16 mill option. 

I would say it's unlikely they do.  And you're right about the 16M.  I was just thinking about batting numbers to be a potential replacement to Santander, but at 16M, there are probably other cheaper options.  And still, as I said, Eloy would have to show his value.  But you're right, it's unlikely.

[sportsfan8703]

Kjerstad appears to be slotted in as Santa’s 2025+ replacement in RF. EBJ for Mullins in 2026+. Honeycutt in the OF mix for 2027+. 

Kjerstad has a home. Hope this concussion isn’t a thing. 

[interloper]

Will be interesting to see if he's in the Norfolk lineup today.

[CharlieC]

Are the O’s hurting Kjerstad’s development by playing yo-yo with him?  He’s already 25.  Maybe they should have tried to package him, Mayo, and Povich for Skubal.

Edited August 6 by CharlieC

[Rbiggs2525]

He will be back. Especially if Mullins continues to struggle the way he is. Quick reset.

[CharlieC]

16 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

He will be back. Especially if Mullins continues to struggle the way he is. Quick reset.

Not sure he will be up anytime soon, but if he is, for how long and to sit the bench…again?

Edited August 6 by CharlieC

[RVAOsFan]

Would it be out of the question for the Orioles to have sent him down to Sarasota for a few days to focus on his defense? The bat is going to play, would be really nice if he could handle a corner OF spot. 

[CharlieC]

5 minutes ago, RVAOsFan said:

Would it be out of the question for the Orioles to have sent him down to Sarasota for a few days to focus on his defense? The bat is going to play, would be really nice if he could handle a corner OF spot. 

From what I’ve seen, all they do is park him on the bench when he’s up.  Recent acquisitions won’t help either.  He’s already 25, they are wasting him.

Edited August 6 by CharlieC

[webbrick2010]

When you draft college players the clock ticks louder

Unfortunately, injuries and illness slowed his development and now you are looking at a guy still in the high minors at an age where he is probably at his physical peak

I do believe his trade value has dropped this year and will continue to drop which means it may be more valuable to keep him and delay his promotion to next year.

[CharlieC]

2 minutes ago, webbrick2010 said:

When you draft college players the clock ticks louder

Unfortunately, injuries and illness slowed his development and now you are looking at a guy still in the high minors at an age where he is probably at his physical peak

I do believe his trade value has dropped this year and will continue to drop which means it may be more valuable to keep him and delay his promotion to next year.

Maybe they will delay playing him consistently when he’s up, to age 30. 

[Frobby]

20 minutes ago, CharlieC said:

Maybe they will delay playing him consistently when he’s up, to age 30. 

I don’t agree at all with your narrative.  The guy didn’t play for nearly two years due to myocarditis and a hamstrung injury.  That’s not the Orioles’ fault.  He’ll get his chances again.  

[LookitsPuck]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

I don’t agree at all with your narrative.  The guy didn’t play for nearly two years due to myocarditis and a hamstrung injury.  That’s not the Orioles’ fault.  He’ll get his chances again.  

For real.

Heston reminds me a lot of Trey Mancini in terms of when he came up. Mancini was 25 in his first full season. Heston Kjerstad was 25 in his near first-time full season. And you're absolutely right, his debut was delayed by 1-2 years. That's most definitely not an Orioles fault. And I think if that concussion doesn't happen, he's very possibility still up here. 

[Say O!]

29 minutes ago, webbrick2010 said:

When you draft college players the clock ticks louder

Unfortunately, injuries and illness slowed his development and now you are looking at a guy still in the high minors at an age where he is probably at his physical peak

I do believe his trade value has dropped this year and will continue to drop which means it may be more valuable to keep him and delay his promotion to next year.

Not sure the prospect industry agrees with you there, especially with Kjerstad’s rankings from midseason

• ESPN #47
• Fangraphs #26
• MLB Pipeline #20

[CharlieC]

39 minutes ago, LookitsPuck said:

For real.

Heston reminds me a lot of Trey Mancini in terms of when he came up. Mancini was 25 in his first full season. Heston Kjerstad was 25 in his near first-time full season. And you're absolutely right, his debut was delayed by 1-2 years. That's most definitely not an Orioles fault. And I think if that concussion doesn't happen, he's very possibility still up here. 

They weren’t playing him enough, up or not, before the concussion.  I get the injury excuse from the past, but let’s face it,he had nothing else to prove in the minors and was playing well for the Orioles in limited at bats.  They simply didn’t play him much.  They should have packed him in a deal for SP.  He still has value, but the clock is ticking on him, because he will be a 26 year old this time next year.

Edited August 6 by CharlieC