Heston Kjerstad #13

Attended the University of Arkansas and Canyon Randall (TX) HS...Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 36th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft following his senior year of high school but did not sign...Received his Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Sport Management from Arkansas' College of Education and Health Professions in the Fall of 2020. Told his parents he would finish his degree after he got drafted...Older brother, Dexter, played four MiLB seasons (2014-17) as an outfielder in the Royals and Marlins organizations...His favorite player growing up was Derek Jeter.

2022

Made his professional debut with Low-A Delmarva on 6/10 vs. Fayetteville...Hit his first professional home run on 6/24 vs. Lynchburg...In 22 games with Delmarva, slashed .463/.551/.650 (37-for-80) with nine doubles, two home runs, 17 runs scored, 17 RBI and 13 walks with a 1.201 OPS...From 6/10-7/10, led the Carolina League in average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS; ranked tied for first in doubles, second in hits and fourth in total bases (52)...Named the Orioles Minor League Player of the Month for June after hitting .429/.500/.589 (24-for-56) with six doubles, one home run, 11 runs scored, 11 RBI, six walks and 1.089 OPS in 15 games with the Shorebirds...Promoted to High-A Aberdeen on 7/13, where he spent the remainder of the season...Slashed .233/.312/.362 (38-for-163) with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 28 runs scored, 20 RBI and 16 walks in 43 games with the IronBirds...Combined to slash .309/.394/.457 (75-for-243) with 17 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 45 runs scored, 37 RBI, 29 walks and an .851 OPS in 65 games between Delmarva and Aberdeen in his first professional season; named an Organization AllStar by MiLB.com...Following the season, played for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League; named an AFL Rising Star and AFL Most Valuable Player after hitting .357/.385/.622 (35-for-98) with nine doubles, one triple, five home runs, 13 runs scored, 17 RBI and a 1.007 OPS in 22 games and pacing the AFL in hits, doubles, extra-base hits (15), and total bases (61)...Enters the 2023 season ranked as the No. 6 Orioles prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 12 by Baseball America; ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 80 overall prospect.

2021

Did not play during the regular season (myocarditis)...Participated in the team's Fall Instructional League camp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla...Ranked as the No. 6 Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America.

2020

Did not play during the regular season, because of the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic...Ranked as the No. 4 Orioles prospect and the No. 86 overall prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America’s Mid-Season update.