The Orioles announced a series of roster moves today, selecting the contract of outfielder Heston Kjerstad and recalling right-hander Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk. To open active roster spots for those two, outfielder Ryan McKenna and left-hander Nick Vespi were optioned to Norfolk. To open a spot for Kjerstad on the 40-man, infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra was recalled from Norfolk and placed on the 60-day injured list with a strained right shoulder.
Of all the moves, the most significant is the promotion of Kjerstad, as it’s yet another instance of the O’s promoting a highly-touted prospect to their major league club. The past six years have seen the club endure a significant rebuild, finishing last in the American League East four times, losing 108 games or more in three of those. That’s allowed them to build a pipeline of young talent that has started to feed into for the big league team. Youngsters like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez and others have helped the club jump to a record of 91-54, the best such mark in the American League this year.
Kjerstad, 24, was taken with the second overall pick in 2020. His professional debut was delayed by myocarditis, which prevented him from taking part in any official game action in 2021. He split last year between Single-A and High-A, hitting a combined .309/.394/.457 between those two levels. This year, he’s gone through Double-A and Triple-A with a combined slash of .303/.376/.528, which translates to a wRC+ of 132.
The outfielder is currently considered the #44 prospect in the league by Baseball America, #24 by MLB Pipeline, #49 by ESPN and #56 by Keith Law of The Athletic. FanGraphs doesn’t currently provide specific rankings beyond the 50 Future Value guys on the 20-80 scouting scale, but Kjerstad is one of many unnumbered 45+ guys that are lumped together around the back half of the top 100. He’s considered a bat-first prospect, with his power his standout tool, but it’s expected he can be a fine corner outfielder from a defensive standpoint.
It was reported last night that a promotion of Kjerstad was possible, in conjunction with Ryan Mountcastle battling a shoulder injury. Mountcastle hasn’t landed on the injured list as of yet, but it seems Kjerstad will push into the mix regardless. Mountcastle has been the regular option at first base, but perhaps his injury means Ryan O’Hearn takes over that spot and spends less time in the outfield corners. That would perhaps leave Kjerstad, Anthony Santander, Aaron Hicks and Austin Hays splitting the duties of left field, right field and designated hitter. Kjerstad also played some first base in the minors and could be a factor there.
The O’s are about to begin what may be their most important series of the regular season. The Rays are just two games back in the East division and the two clubs are set to face off in a four-game series that starts tonight in Baltimore. Both teams are sure to make the postseason but the division winner will secure a bye through the first round, making the distinction significant. Kjerstad isn’t in the starting lineup tonight but should make his debut at some point in the next few weeks and might even secure himself a spot on the postseason roster.
With so little time left in the season, Kjerstad won’t be able to exhaust his rookie status and will therefore still be on prospect lists in the upcoming offseason. That means he will still be eligible for the “prospect promotion incentives” that are present in the current collective bargaining agreement. That could allow the O’s to recoup a bonus draft pick in the future, depending on how Kjerstad fares in awards voting going forward.
As for Vavra, he was with the big league club earlier this year but has been on optional assignment since early June. While in the minors, he missed over two months from mid-June to late August, when he began a rehab assignment. The club informed reporters last week, including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, that Vavra’s rehab was being shut down for further testing. There’s not much detail on his injury or timeline but it seems his season is over, based on today’s transfer.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Vavra up and then to the 60 day to make room on the 40man.
“Very sneaky, sis.”
I don’t know that another team would claim him but that was a clever move at least until the end of the season when there is not 40man IL.
Vespi is probably getting dangerously close to too many call ups in a season. I feel for him, every team needs left relief but he hasn’t lit it up except for stretches in Norfolk.
Vavra would get claimed very quickly. He’s likely no more than a utility man in his career but he’d be an upgrade for a number of teams in thAt role:
If Vavra was healthy, straight up he would’ve been up with McKenna going down. Super utility guy comfortable hitting in the bigs. IMO him, Henderson and Westburg are the rooks that have proven they can stick. Get better Terrin!
Love Vespi. A hanger on that spent multiple years in Os minors just eeking by, than last year the club gives him his shot. And damn, he showed up. Way cool.
I think Stowers is in jeopardy this off-season. I figure he’ll be apart of some sort of trade. Won’t be a very big trade unless he’s the 3rd/4th piece but there’s really no room here for him. Better guys behind him in the minors too.
Vavra gets MLB service time for the rest of the season.
Vavra can’t be put on waivers since he’s injured. That’s why they did what they did.
I think they did it to not lose Vavra. Frazier is gone in the off-season and we’ll likely deal Urias or Mateo also. Vavra becomes our top depth utility man in AAA at the worst or he cracks our bench next year.
Heston Kjerstad is such a cool name a lot of good names on the Os
Gunnar, Adley and now Heston, definitely unique names, they do sound cool.
Colton too.
Starting 2024 Heston will be the Os cleanup hitter for at least six years.
Honestly I can’t wait to see what develops thru 2024 here , with Jackson Heston Gunnar Adley and all the really good current roster of players. Then the other prospects too. What depth. Haven’t even talked pitching. Healthy Means , Grayson Bradish et al Salivating if I’m an Os fan.
I’m a White Sox fan so you can understand why I’ve turned my attention to the O’s and Dbacks, and even the Reds. Fox is supposed to air tonight’s first O’s/Rays game, but MLB network has the game as (God forbid we should miss any of their games) Yankees vs. The Pirates.
I’m a White Sox fan so you can understand why I’ve turned my attention to the O’s and Dbacks, and even the Reds. Fox is supposed to air tonight’s first O’s/Rays game, but MLB network has the game as (God forbid we should miss any of their games) Yankees vs. The Red Sox.
Here in Ontario plethora of games free on sports networks , Rays /os , jays always , Sox yanks , one or two others , west coast games later.
Of course you can buy an mlb package get all games. But plenty for free
Kjerstad can rake. They are going to have to find a way to fit his bat into the lineup.
They’ll be able to find space in 2024. Why? Because its time to pay Santander $10M+ and the club is too cheap to do that.
Common gripe about everything. I am not apologist for that Clown Angela but the argument is so tired.
Well let’s see if he’s worthy of a top 3 pick or is he just another scrub taken in the 1st round
Aww, is that how they treated you on your first day on the pickle farm?
Yep. As soon as I got done baking the Mc.brides.. stay in your lane son
Tanking works.
Unless you’re the White Sox and Padres.
None of those teams are tanking, they’re just incompetent.
Uh check their history. They tanked long and hard for years, which is what I was referring to
There’s a difference between just being bad and being bad by design in order to accumulate prospects, ie what the Astros and Orioles have done.
Trading Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Adam Eaton etc with multiple years on their contract is being bad by design.
Congratulations!
This IS THE GUY, I said the Tiger should give everything they have to trade for…both pitchers and both relievers. ERod, Lorenzen, Foley, Lange…..
Look forward to awesomeness.
Speaking of Os minors and front office – why do they continue to try to get Tyler wells on track. Clearly he’s either hurt or his arm is just done for the year. You don’t go from the lowest WHIP in baseball before the all star break to get destroyed in AAA if you’re healthy. Just shut the kid down for the year before you ruin his career.
Heston Kjerstad and Keston Hiura. Weird!