Heston Kjerstad Bio
Heston Sawyer Kjerstad is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Orioles selected Kjerstad in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft, and he made his Major League debut in September 2023. Known around the clubhouse by the nickname “Silent J,” Kjerstad has emerged as one of the Orioles’ top young position-player prospects, capable of handling both corner outfield spots and first base.
Born in Amarillo, Texas, Kjerstad rose to national attention as a power-hitting outfielder at the University of Arkansas, where he starred for the Razorbacks before being selected with the second overall pick in the draft. He signed with Baltimore for a $5.2 million bonus and has since climbed through the organization’s farm system, reaching Triple-A and earning a place on the Orioles’ 40-man roster.
Early Life and Background
Heston Sawyer Kjerstad was born on February 12, 1999, in Amarillo, Texas, and grew up in the Texas Panhandle community that shaped his early athletic development. He attended Randall High School in Amarillo, where he quickly established himself as one of the most productive hitters in the region. During his junior season, he batted .477 with 32 runs batted in (RBIs) and was named his district’s Most Valuable Player and first-team All-State.
As a senior, Kjerstad repeated as his district’s Most Valuable Player and was again recognized as a first-team All-State selection, cementing his reputation as a premier amateur talent. His production at Randall drew national scouting attention and led to the Seattle Mariners selecting him in the 36th round of the 2017 MLB draft. Rather than sign, Kjerstad chose to honor his college commitment and continue his development at the University of Arkansas.
Path to Baseball
Kjerstad joined the Arkansas Razorbacks as a freshman starting outfielder and immediately made an impact in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He batted .332 with 30 extra-base hits, 14 home runs, and 58 RBIs, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors along with second-team All-SEC and freshman All-American recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He also helped Arkansas reach the 2018 College World Series final and was named to the All-Tournament team.
In his sophomore season, Kjerstad was again a second-team All-SEC pick after batting .327 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs. He spent that summer representing the United States as a member of the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team, batting .395 across 14 games. Entering his junior year, he was widely regarded as a top prospect for the 2020 draft, earning preseason first-team All-American honors from Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper before the season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
Heston Kjerstad Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
The Baltimore Orioles selected Kjerstad with the second overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft, and he signed with the club on June 30, 2020, for a $5.2 million bonus. His professional trajectory was paused when he developed myocarditis shortly after signing, forcing him to miss spring training and the entire 2021 season while recovering.
Kjerstad returned to action in 2022, opening the year in extended spring training before making his professional debut on June 10, 2022, with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He batted .463 with 37 hits and 17 RBIs in 22 games, earning a quick promotion to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds. He finished the regular season with Aberdeen, batting .233/.312/.362 in 43 games, and later starred in the Arizona Fall League, batting .371/.400/.663 while leading the league in at bats and doubles.
Minor League Breakthrough (2023)
Kjerstad entered 2023 as a non-roster invitee to Orioles spring training, where he batted .381 with four home runs in 23 games before being reassigned to minor league camp. He began the season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, adding first base to his outfield responsibilities, and immediately produced. In 57 games with Bowie, he hit .310/.383/.576 and ranked among the Eastern League’s top five in batting average, slugging, OPS, triples, home runs, extra-base hits, and hits.
Promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on June 5, Kjerstad continued to mash, slugging his first Triple-A homer as a leadoff inside-the-park shot against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on June 9. He was selected to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game and finished the year batting .303 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs across 122 games between Bowie and Norfolk.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2023–Present)
Kjerstad received his first major-league call-up on September 14, 2023, after Ryan Mountcastle went on the injured list. He struck out as a pinch hitter in his debut against the Tampa Bay Rays that evening, but returned the next night to record his first MLB hit, a leadoff homer to right-center that ended Zach Eflin’s no-hit bid. Across 13 games as a September rookie, he batted .233/.281/.467 with two home runs and three RBIs.
Optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to open 2024, Kjerstad set a Tides single-game record with 10 RBIs on April 3 against the Charlotte Knights. After a brief major-league stint in late April, he returned to Norfolk and was recalled again in late June. On June 29, he launched his first major-league grand slam off Michael Lorenzen in a 6–5 win over the Texas Rangers, announcing himself as an emerging run-producing threat in the Baltimore lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kjerstad’s career has been punctuated by several signature moments, from his first-round selection in 2020 to his record-setting 10-RBI game for Norfolk in 2024. His first MLB homer, which spoiled a no-hit bid against Tampa Bay, and his first grand slam against Texas stand out as the early milestones of his major-league tenure.
Heston Kjerstad Career Wins
Heston Kjerstad’s win totals have been built around run production rather than pitching, with his offensive highlights anchoring his resume across college, the minor leagues, and the major leagues.
Minor League Highlights
In the Arizona Fall League after the 2022 season, Kjerstad led the league in at bats and doubles while finishing second in strikeouts. At Bowie in 2023, he finished among the Eastern League’s top five in batting average, slugging, OPS, triples, home runs, extra-base hits, and hits. His 21 home runs and 55 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A that year underscored his middle-of-the-order potential.
Other Performances
Kjerstad’s college resume featured three All-SEC selections in three seasons at Arkansas, including SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2018 and an All-Tournament nod at the College World Series. His selection to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game further cemented his status as one of baseball’s top young prospects during his rise through the Orioles’ system.
Heston Kjerstad Family
Personal Life
Heston Kjerstad grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and has continued to be associated with the community that produced him. Public details about his immediate family and personal life remain limited beyond the broad strokes of his Texas upbringing.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Kjerstad is expected to compete for a more permanent role on the Baltimore Orioles’ major-league roster after splitting 2024 between Norfolk and Baltimore. His late-season grand slam and productive Triple-A track record have positioned him as a candidate for regular at-bats at first base or in a corner outfield spot.
With the Orioles continuing to build around their young core, Kjerstad’s blend of contact hitting, power, and positional flexibility should give manager Brandon Hyde options at the heart of the batting order. His development as a first baseman in 2024 added another layer to his value, allowing Baltimore to deploy him alongside established outfielders while keeping his bat in the lineup.
The outlook for Kjerstad in 2025 centers on translating his minor-league production into consistent major-league results, building on the momentum of his first grand slam and his strong 2023 minor-league numbers. If he secures a regular role, he has the upside to become a middle-of-the-order run producer for an Orioles club with postseason aspirations.