Despite enduring an early-career odyssey, Heston Kjerstad spent most of his first season taking part in within the Orioles’ farm system exhibiting how gifted he stays.
He put that on show all through his time within the Arizona Fall League, incomes the offseason growth league’s Most Valuable Player honors. Playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions alongside fellow minor leaguers from the Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants, Kjerstad led the league in hits, doubles, extra-base hits and whole bases, along with his 5 residence runs one off the AFL lead whereas his 1.007 OPS ranked sixth amongst certified gamers. Former winners of the AFL MVP award embody All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado.
A 23-year-old outfielder ranked as Baltimore’s No. 8 prospect in line with Baseball America, Kjerstad was the second total decide within the 2020 draft, with the ability potential he confirmed from the left facet on the University of Arkansas prompting the Orioles to draft him a number of picks sooner than he was anticipated to go. But he didn’t get the prospect to attempt to show himself to be the right selection till precisely two years later, along with his skilled debut delayed by the guts situation myocarditis, which he developed shortly after the choice, and a extreme left hamstring pressure suffered this spring.
He lastly performed in a recreation in June, and in 65 appearances between Low-A Delmarva and High-A Aberdeen, Kjerstad hit .309 with an OPS of .851, with a lot of that success coming with the Shorebirds as he slashed .463/.551/.650 in 98 plate appearances. Although he largely struggled after his promotion, he hit .300 with an .846 OPS in his last 13 video games for Aberdeen.
He carried that success to Arizona. Kjerstad was a “Fall Star,” batting third for the American League staff within the AFL’s all-star contest, and completed because the runner-up within the AFL residence run derby.
Given how he carried out within the AFL amongst different gifted prospects, Kjerstad may need positioned himself to start out subsequent season with Double-A Bowie, inside attain of an MLB debut by the tip of the yr. But given how his profession has gone, he’ll probably be completely satisfied to start out the season with any affiliate, so long as it means he’s taking part in baseball.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com