When Is Heston Kjerstad Getting Called Up? Fantasy Baseball Prospect Outlook

The logjam is real for the Baltimore Orioles. They sport one of the best big league rosters in baseball as well as the No. 1-ranked farm system in the sport, according to MLB Pipeline. They have more big-league-ready prospects toiling in the minors than you can shake a stick at. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, and Colton Cowser are making significant impacts with the big club daily while Jackson Holliday, Kyle Stowers, and Heston Kjerstad have all seen time in the big leagues in 2024.

Fortunately, for Kjerstad, the logjam isn't quite as significant in the outfield. Cowser and veteran Anthony Santander have raked but Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays have not. With a white-hot start to the season at Triple-A under his belt, can Kjerstad get his second big league promotion of the season and join one of the best offenses in baseball?

Let's dive in and check on the 25-year-old's prospect status and what his 2024 fantasy baseball outlook looks like.

Heston Kjerstad Prospect Update for Fantasy Baseball

Kjerstad spent a little over two weeks in the big leagues early in the season, scuffling to a .143 average (2-for-14) without an extra-base hit across a brief 17 plate appearances before being sent back to Triple-A Norfolk. All he's done with Norfolk this season is hit .329 with 14 homers, a 13.5% BB%, and a 1.103 OPS in 39 games, production that grades out 73% above the league average, as per his 173 wRC+.

Such production warrants an immediate return to the big leagues, but it's the Orioles. There's a numbers game in Baltimore, which is preventing a handful of MLB-ready prospects from being promoted. It's a wonderful problem for the team but a tough situation for fantasy managers clamoring for their top prospects to return to The Show.

List of MLB & MiLB hitters this season to accomplish the following in their first 33 team games:

.330+ AVG, 1.045+ OPS, & 27+ RBI

• C.J. Kayfus (LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, High-A, CLE)

• Heston Kjerstad (Norfolk Tides, Triple-A, BAL)#SeasTheDay#MiLB pic.twitter.com/QlRjEzn34a

— Logan Potosky (@LoganPotosky) May 13, 2024

However, as noted, the outfield isn't quite the fortress the infield dirt is. It will be difficult for the 38-20 Orioles to make any drastic changes that would potentially include giving Kjerstad outfield reps over veterans Mullins, Hays, or both. At the same time, Mullins owns a .544 OPS with Hays sitting with a .581 mark even after blasting his first two homers of the season on Monday in Toronto. Kyle Stowers is hitting .364 since his promotion. It is a deserved promotion but he also sports a wildly unsustainable .500 BABIP.

Fantasy managers have exercised patience but it remains to be seen when the organization will again pull the trigger on a promotion on Kjerstad, perhaps at the expense of some valued veterans. It's also worth noting he could become a valued trade commodity if the club chooses to significantly upgrade its injury-ravaged rotation, which could free Kjerstad for everyday playtime time elsewhere in the big leagues.

Heston Kjerstad Outlook for Fantasy Baseball

Kjerstad doesn't have a ton of upper-minors seasoning but it doesn't appear he needs much more. He hit .303 with 21 home runs and a .904 OPS in 2023 between Double-A and Triple-A before torching Triple-A pitching to this point in 2024. Speed isn't part of the former second overall pick's profile but power certainly is. He has slugged 40 homers, 56 doubles, and 10 triples across 226 minor league contests.

Heston Kjerstad hit another home run. His 14th of the season. pic.twitter.com/TeZ1VHBCHi

— Mason Choate (@ChoateMason) June 2, 2024

The good news for the left-swinging youngster is that he won't be forced to deal with the deepened left-field fence at Camden Yards to his pull field. The bad news is Camden Yards' park alterations left it tied to 22nd with a 98 Park Factor last season, as per Baseball Savant.

Nonetheless, Kjerstad's stay in the minors shouldn't last much longer, even if he hasn't enjoyed big league success in a miniature 20-game sample. Redraft managers should continue to exercise patience approaching the summer months while dynasty managers would, quite obviously, be wise to hold on for the long haul.

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