The incontrovertible fact that Heston Kjerstad is taking part in in any respect is noteworthy, given the breadth of accidents which have set again his growth. His early manufacturing, then, is barely extra encouraging.
The Orioles’ first-round decide from the 2020 draft made his affiliate debut earlier this month for the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, taking the sphere for aggressive baseball for the primary time in two years. Kjerstad has navigated a number of well being issues, together with a coronary heart situation. A hamstring pressure suffered early in spring coaching pushed again his debut extra.
But now that the previous Arkansas star is on the sphere, success is shortly following.
Each week, The Baltimore Sun will break down 5 of the highest performers within the Orioles’ prospect ranks and hand out some superlatives for many who didn’t make that lower. And after Kjerstad’s quick begin to the season, he leads this week’s report.
1. Low-A Delmarva outfielder Heston Kjerstad
Kjerstad has performed solely seven video games, however that small pattern measurement has been spectacular. The outfielder marked his debut with an opposite-field single and an RBI, then had a number of hits in three of his subsequent six outings. Across 5 video games final week, Kjerstad hit .421 with a .981 OPS, doubling twice and strolling twice whereas driving house six runners. To see him taking part in is one factor. To see him taking part in properly is one other altogether.
2. Triple-A Norfolk infielder Rylan Bannon
After the Orioles optioned right-hander Mike Baumann to Triple-A on Monday to cut back the most important league roster to the brand new most of 13 pitchers, one other place participant will likely be on his solution to Baltimore for Tuesday evening’s matchup with the Washington Nationals. Bannon, who made his huge league debut in St. Louis earlier this season, is a possible choice to fill that position, notably whereas infielder Ramón Urías stays out with an indirect harm.
Bannon hit three homers in a six-game span final week, leaving him with an OPS of 1.423 in that stretch. He was a part of a powerful Norfolk infield that additionally included Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg, who have been moved up from Double-A Bowie earlier this month. Westburg had 4 extra-base hits final week and Henderson labored 5 walks round his homer and three doubles.
3. Double-A Bowie first baseman Andrew Daschbach
Daschbach is hitting simply .199 in 52 video games, however the 24-year-old turned issues round on the plate final week, a part of a seven-game hitting streak. An Eleventh-round choice within the 2019 draft out of Stanford, he hit .350 with a 1.080 OPS final week, including a house run and 7 RBIs to the combo.
4. Double-A Bowie right-hander Chris Vallimont
Vallimont is simply 25, however he’s bounced round since he was chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2018 draft by the Miami Marlins. Since then, he was included in a commerce that despatched him to the Minnesota Twins earlier than the Orioles claimed him off waivers in May. His begin to the season hasn’t at all times been regular, however his two begins final week have been spectacular; within the latter, he threw a mixed 10 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in contrast with simply stroll, resulting in a promotion Monday to Triple-A.
5. High-A Aberdeen outfielder Colton Cowser
The Orioles have excessive hopes for Cowser, whom they chose out of Sam Houston State with the fifth total decide of the 2021 draft. Early in his first full season of affiliate play, he has an .805 OPS, and his final week particularly stood out. Cowser hit two homers and two doubles and drove in 5 runs in 5 video games, a stretch that included eight hits total and a 1.171 OPS. That manufacturing included two three-hit video games whereas taking part in heart subject.
Top prospect not featured thus far
It appears like a matter of time earlier than left-hander DL Hall, coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts Thursday on 89 pitches, receives his promotion to the Orioles. . That pitch depend, his highest of the 12 months, was greater than left-hander Bruce Zimmermann had in any begin this season for Baltimore.
But these 89 pitches got here in simply 4 1/3 innings, displaying a scarcity of effectivity attributable to the truth that Hall doesn’t pitch to contact. With as many swings and misses as he’s induced at Triple-A, his pitch depend naturally balloons.
There’s a gap within the rotation after Zimmermann’s demotion, however govt vp and common supervisor Mike Elias stated the demotion of Zimmermann received’t essentially result in Hall’s promotion.
International acquisition of the week
After simply two video games within the Florida Complex League, infielder Frederick Bencosme was promoted to Delmarva. The 19-year-old has hit the bottom working. Last week for the Shorebirds, Bencosme recorded 9 hits in 21 at-bats, hanging out simply as soon as. The center infielder additionally drove in three runs, however he was caught stealing twice. The Orioles signed Bencosme in 2020 and he hit .310 within the Dominican Summer League final 12 months.
The finest former top-30 prospect of the week
Finding house in a crowded Bowie infield has been a troublesome job for Adam Hall this 12 months, necessitating loads of time within the outfield or at DH. But his bat is deserving of a spot, and he made a degree of that final week with a 1.214 OPS in 5 video games, hitting two doubles and a homer whereas strolling twice. Hall is batting .271, and whereas the 23-year-old has slid down prospect rankings since he was chosen within the second spherical of the 2017 draft, his manufacturing has rebounded after a gradual 2021.
Time to present some shine to …
Right-hander Connor Gillispie began for Aberdeen for the seventh time this season, and he put collectively his finest efficiency but. The 24-year-old accomplished six innings and allowed three hits, one unearned run and no walks whereas hanging out seven hitters. Gillispie, a ninth-round decide within the 2019 draft, has a 2.65 ERA total this season.
Short-season snippets
Outfielder Braylin Tavera, a 17-year-old taking part in within the Dominican Summer League, hit the second homer of his season final week however struck out seven occasions in a four-game span. Second baseman Aron Estrada, a 17-year-old from Venezuela, had a 1.692 OPS final week within the DSL, with six hits and three walks in 4 video games. Left-hander Deivy Cruz, an 18-year-old pitching within the Florida Complex League, mixed to permit 4 runs in eight innings.
Minor league strikes
Vallimont earned a transfer to Norfolk after a powerful week on the mound, however he was hardly the one participant promoted. Right-hander Justin Armbruster was summoned to Bowie; catcher Andres Angulo and right-handers Dan Hammer, Nick Richmond and Thomas Girard have been despatched to Aberdeen; Outfielder Yusniel Diaz and catcher Brett Cumberland are additionally headed to Aberdeen to start rehab assignments; shortstop Anthony Servideo left the Florida Complex League to move to Delmarva.
NATIONALS@ORIOLES
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com