Could the Orioles have done more? Outfielder Heston Kjerstad cleared outright waivers and is now a free‑agent, according to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner. The club had earlier designated him for assignment, reports Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun.
Kjerstad’s Baltimore chapter has been a stark letdown after the O’s spent a second‑overall pick on him in 2020. A bout of myocarditis sidelined him for 2021, pushing his MLB debut to 2023. Since then the left‑handed hitter has posted a modest .217/.280/.359 line with 10 homers, 29.1% strikeouts and a 5.4% walk rate in 333 plate appearances.
Now 27, he still hasn’t earned a full‑season role. In 2025 he appeared in a career‑high 54 games and 167 plate appearances, yet that was only a third of the schedule. He managed a meager 57 wRC+, batting .192/.240/.327 with four long balls, a 26.9% strikeout rate and a 3.6% walk percentage.
An undisclosed health issue kept him out for the final two months of 2025. He returned healthy for spring training but strained a hamstring in March, not rejoining the active roster until late May. The Orioles then sent him to Triple‑A Norfolk, where he posted .289/.337/.462 with 11 homers and a 106 wRC+ over 333 trips. He was recalled in September, appeared in 11 games and went 4‑for‑19 with a double, nine strikeouts and no walks.
Given his weak output and the lack of minor‑league options, it’s no surprise other clubs ignored him on waivers. In my view, Kjerstad will need a fresh start on a minor‑league deal to revive his career this offseason.