Orioles’ Kjerstad makes MLB debut in 8th on Thursday

Heston Kjerstad was called up as a pinch-hitter late in a playoff push game for Baltimore.

Heston Kjerstad got thrown into the fire on Thursday night.

With Baltimore in a dead heat with Tampa Bay for the American League East crown, the former Razorback outfielder came up in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter.

Unfortunately, he struck out, but there will be more opportunities for the lefty down the road.

The Orioles lost to the Rays, 4-3, and their lead in the American League East is down to just a single game with just under three weeks to go.

Kjerstad entered the season as Baltimore’s No. 2-ranked prospect behind Gunnar Henderson. Henderson has spent the whole year as the Orioles starting shortstop and is among the favorites for Rookie of the Year.

The former Arkansas leftfielder has a .904 OPS in 143 games between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year in the franchise. And even with his long-term projection being higher than the short, that the Orioles would call him up in the heat of a playoff push speaks tremendous value to what they believe they have with him right now.