The Orioles announced that outfielder Heston Kjerstad has been placed on the seven-day injured list for concussion-related injuries. Outfielder Kyle Stowers was called up from Triple-A Norfolk to take Kjerstad’s place on the active roster.
The injury stems from a scary incident in last night’s 4-1 Orioles loss to the Yankees, as Kjerstad was hit in the head by a Clay Holmes fastball in the bottom of the ninth. Both benches cleared in the aftermath of the HBP, only adding to the tension between the two AL East rivals in this important series. Kjerstad naturally left the game after being hit, and though he was initially included in today’s lineup, he was a late scratch following the pregame workouts.
Since there was some idea that Kjerstad could’ve returned to the field today, it might imply that the IL placement is precautionary in nature. Due to the upcoming All-Star break, Kjerstad would miss only three games if is able to return after the seven-day minimum, plus Baltimore also has an off-day on July 22 if the club wanted to give him a bit of extra recovery time. Given the fluid nature of head-related injuries, it is also possible Kjerstad could miss far beyond seven days if he has indeed suffered a concussion.
Kjerstad made his MLB debut with 13 games in 2023, and the top prospect began this season in Triple-A before being recalled to the Orioles’ roster for about a three-week stretch bridging late April to mid-May. He received only 17 plate appearances over seven games in that first stint, but has gotten much more playing time since his last recall on June 24, and has forced his way into regular action in the O’s lineup. Kjerstad has hit .378/.465/.676 with three homers in 43 plate appearances since June 24, seeing action as a DH and in both corner outfield slots and almost exclusively facing right-handed pitching.
The left-handed hitting Stowers could essentially fit right into Kjerstad’s role on paper, and also like Kjerstad, Stowers is another former top prospect looking for playing time within the crowded Baltimore roster. Appearing in each of the last three MLB seasons, Stowers has hit .222/.269/.365 over 167 career PA, though those numbers are weighed down by a dismal 33-PA performance in 2023. This year, Stowers has a more respectable .286/.278/.486 slash line in 36 PA, and he has continued to mash at Triple-A. Strikeouts remain a flaw in Stowers’ game, but he can provide the O’s with some power potential at least until Kjerstad is back.
Any pitcher throwing to head area shoulld be suspended for 10 games.
Even if it just got away?
To rephrase someone, maybe Yankees should not throw inside if they cannot avoid hitting batters.
Intimidation is part of the Game. The fear factor of getting hit is one of the things any Batter has to overcome to be Good. Don’t want anyone to get hit in the head but that’s why Batting Helmets were invented because it happens.
It’s not intimidation when you can’t control your stuff. It’s recklessness and borderline dirty. The Yankees lead the majors in hit batters. Typical Yankees bs. The team hasn’t been able to win by just playing baseball in decades.
BLIN7Y – so you agree that Albert Suarez had every right to throw in on Judge & Torres last month! Good for you
That is one of the most ridiculous comments I have ever heard. Helmets were invented so pitchers can intimidate players by throwing at their head? If anyone is ever found to be intentionally throwing at someone’s head they should be banned from baseball for life. Helmets were never invented to intentionally throw at anyone.
Yes , they obviously need the time to work on their control
Very few pitchers have decent control or command. There are already penalties in place for intentionally throwing at batters. No need for other “remedies.”
Just 10 days? I’ll take that and accept the role as pitcher for both sides in the congressional baseball game. Just get me to driveline before hand.
Isn’t that softball?
If it is they can tack few extra days on to the suspension for pitching overhand
Noooooo! Have him come back the next game and BLOW it.
Were the marks on his face from the baseball? That’s one tough dude.
That was dirt. He was hit in the earflap.
Sorry typo ‘the baseball’
Realistically, the Yankees have been doing a whole lot of losing, they had a chance to win last night, and you don’t hit someone and put them on in a 4-1 game. Maybe there are fans who don’t believe that, but…
On the year the yank have drilled 10 Orioles including one in the head last night.
If that was the other way around there would be ejections, fines, and suspensions by now.
Baseball has a funny way of taking care of things.
I dont really blame NY. It was raining pretty hard the Umps should have delayed the game.
But make no mistake, if an O’s pitcher had plunked the Yanks in the same way, the world would be out for blood. This pitch looked WAY more intentional than the one that hit Judge on his poor wittle finger… but Yanks fans are out in droves making excuses. “Throwing inside is part of the game.” Yet three weeks ago, it was “Baltimore shouldn’t throw jnside to judge because we said so.” Crybabies all.
If you think that pitch was at all intentional there is something wrong with you. It was an 0-2 count in the 9th inning of a huge game and had just started raining.
This situation is one thing, but there is a lot of crying coming from the NYY base whenever someone gets hit there.
If I am not mistaken, the NYY batters are 13th in the AL with 31 HBP. Judge and Rizzo have now been hit 6 times. But their pitching leads the AL with 62.
The Orioles are 8th in HBP (41) with 4 guys having been hit 6 times (including 2 all stars) and another 5 times. Meanwhile their pitchers have only hit 38 batters.
The amount of whining in NY is not in proportion to the statistics. If they are calling for a beanball war to “make things right” it will only hurt them.
I hate the beanball thing, its dangerous. Earl Weaver tried to get this taken out of the game years ago and told his pitchers not to do it. In 1980 when the Orioles and Yankees were both 100 win teams, the Orioles hit 21 batters and were hit 21 times while the Yankees were hit 28 times and hit 22 batters. For the full season.
The excuse also cannot be pitchers don’t have control. I don’t think anyone can defend an argument that pitchers had more control in 1980.
How many times has stowers been promoted and demoted???
Sure Lock Holmes Mullins it over.