Kjerstad hit a solo home run in his lone at-bat during Sunday's 6-2 win over the Twins.
Kjerstad was a defensive replacement in right field and went yard when he came to the plate in the eighth inning. Since returning from a concussion in mid-September, he's gone 7-for-30 (.233) over his last 11 contests of the regular season. Kjerstad posted a .253/.351/.394 slash line, four homers, 14 RBI, eight runs scored and one stolen base over 114 plate appearances. If he makes the Orioles' postseason roster, he'll likely be a bench option.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Likely to lose work to Mountcastle
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Kjerstad had occupied the designated-hitter spot in each of the previous three games and started five of the past six contests overall, but he'll likely move into more of a part-time role following Ryan Mountcastle's reinstatement from the injured list Tuesday. Mountcastle and O'Hearn will serve as the Orioles' first baseman and designated hitter, respectively, Wednesday and are expected to occupy either lineup spot in some fashion more often than not heading into the postseason.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Three hits in Saturday's loss
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 3-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored in Saturday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Tigers.
Over his first five games back from a six-week absence due to a concussion, he went a modest 2-for-12 with two strikeouts. Kjerstad was able to break out Saturday, but it's unlikely to lead to a significant uptick in playing time as the Orioles slowly get healthier. He's slashing .271/.374/.400 with three home runs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base over 99 plate appearances while mainly playing against right-handed pitchers this season.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Filling strong-side platoon role
Rotowire
Kjerstad will start in right field and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Giants.
Kjerstad has now picked up three consecutive starts against right-handed pitchers since the Orioles activated him from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He looks set to hold down the strong side of a platoon with Eloy Jimenez, though both Kjerstad and Jimenez could lose out on at-bats once Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) returns from the injured list.
The Orioles reinstated Kjerstad (concussion) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Kjerstad will rejoin the big club for the first time since early August after he completed a six-game rehab assignment that included stops at Double-A Bowie and High-A Aberdeen during which he went 6-for-18 with a double and a 3:1 BB:K. Before he was deactivated due to the concussion, Kjerstad had been serving as a part-time player for the Orioles, though he may have a clearer path to playing time over the final two weeks of the season while Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) remains on the IL. Ryan O'Hearn has taken over as the primary first baseman in Mountcastle's absence, but the Orioles could look to the lefty-hitting Kjerstad to fill the large side of a platoon at designated hitter with the right-handed-hitting Eloy Jimenez.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Starts up rehab at High-A
Rotowire
Kjerstad (concussion) began a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Saturday and has gone 2-for-5 with a walk and a run over his first two contests with the affiliate.
Kjerstad served as Aberdeen's designated hitter Saturday, then played five innings in right field Sunday. He'll likely remain in the minors during the upcoming week as he looks to regain his timing at the plate while he's been sidelined since late July while recovering from a concussion. Once Kjerstad is activated from the 10-day injured list, the Orioles may not have regular playing time available for him at the big-league level, so he could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Kjerstad has cleared concussion protocol and is ramping up his activities, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The hope is that Kjerstad will be ready to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk next week. He's been sidelined since early August following a recurrence of concussion symptoms and will likely need numerous rehab games before rejoining the Orioles.
