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 2023. His teammates and fans know him by the nickname “Silent J,” a playful reference to the quiet-sounding spelling of his surname, pronounced “KER-stad.”
Born on February 12, 1999, in Amarillo, Texas, Kjerstad has built his professional identity around consistent contact, power hitting, and steady development through the Orioles’ farm system. He splits time between the outfield and first base and continues to be regarded as a young power-hitting prospect within the organization.
Early Life and Background
Heston Sawyer Kjerstad grew up in Amarillo, Texas, where he developed his baseball skills in the wide-open spaces of the Texas Panhandle. He attended Randall High School and quickly stood out as one of the most productive hitters in the state. As a junior, he batted .477 with 32 runs batted in, was named his district’s Most Valuable Player, and earned first-team All-State recognition.
Kjerstad built on that success during his senior year, once again earning first-team All-State honors and repeating as district MVP. His combination of size, power, and bat control drew attention from professional scouts, and the Seattle Mariners selected 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 arrived at the University of Arkansas as a highly regarded recruit and immediately became a starting outfielder for the Arkansas Razorbacks. During his freshman season he batted .332 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, a performance that earned him Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors, second-team All-SEC recognition, and freshman All-American selections from both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. That summer he joined the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team, where he batted .395 across 14 games, further sharpening his game against elite competition.
As a sophomore, Kjerstad batted .327 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs and was again named second-team All-SEC. Heading into his junior year, outlets such as Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper ranked him as a preseason first-team All-American and a top prospect for the 2020 MLB draft. He opened the 2020 college season on a tear, batting .448 with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and 19 runs scored in 16 games before the coronavirus pandemic cut the campaign short.
Heston Kjerstad Career
Early Career
The Baltimore Orioles selected Kjerstad with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft, signaling their belief that he could become a middle-of-the-order bat. He signed with the Orioles on June 30, 2020, for a $5.2 million bonus. Shortly after signing, however, he developed myocarditis and missed all of spring training and the entire 2021 season while recovering.
Kjerstad made his long-awaited professional debut on June 10, 2022, for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He batted .463 with 37 hits and 17 RBIs across 22 games before being promoted in early July to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, where he batted .233/.312/.362 across 43 games. He closed the year in the Arizona Fall League, batting .371/.400/.663 and leading the circuit in at-bats and doubles.
Minor League Breakthrough
Kjerstad opened the 2023 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and began working at first base in addition to the outfield, adding versatility to his profile. He hit .310/.383/.576 across 57 hits in 184 at-bats, ranking among the Eastern League’s top five in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, triples, home runs, extra-base hits, and hits. That run earned him a June 5 promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
Just four days after reaching Triple-A, Kjerstad launched his first homer at the level, a leadoff inside-the-park shot in the seventh inning of an 8–4 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He was selected to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, a clear signal of his prospect status. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023, he batted .303 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs across 122 games.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2023–Present)
On September 14, 2023, the Orioles selected Kjerstad to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the majors following an injury to Ryan Mountcastle. He struck out as a pinch hitter in his debut that evening against the Tampa Bay Rays. The very next night, he ended Zach Eflin’s no-hit bid with a leadoff homer to right-center, notching his first major league hit. In 13 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .233/.281/.467 with two home runs and three RBIs.
The Orioles optioned Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2024, where he set a single-game Tides record with 10 RBI in a 26–11 win over the Charlotte Knights on April 3, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs, and four runs scored. Baltimore recalled him on April 23, and after a brief stint he returned to Norfolk before a second recall in late June. On June 29, 2024, he hit his first major-league grand slam off Michael Lorenzen in a 6–5 home win over the Texas Rangers, a signature moment in his young career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kjerstad is regarded as a power-hitting corner bat whose calling card is his raw strength and ability to drive the ball to all fields. He has worked to add positional flexibility by learning first base alongside his outfield duties, making him a more complete everyday player. His plate discipline and on-base skills continued to develop through his time at Arkansas and in the minor leagues.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kjerstad’s signature moments are his 2023 All-Star Futures Game selection, his first major league hit off Zach Eflin that broke up a no-hit bid, his 2024 grand slam against Michael Lorenzen, and his record-setting 10-RBI game for the Norfolk Tides. His rapid climb through the Orioles’ system despite a myocarditis diagnosis in 2020 stands as one of the most resilient storylines in the organization.
Heston Kjerstad Career Wins
Heston Kjerstad’s professional resume is still in its early chapters, with his verified impact concentrated in the Baltimore Orioles system and on his MLB roster since 2023. He has produced memorable individual games and season-long production across Double-A, Triple-A, and the majors.
Minor League and MLB Highlights
Among his verified highlights, Kjerstad was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2019, earned All-Tournament honors at the 2018 College World Series, and was selected to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. He batted .303 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs across Double-A and Triple-A in 2023 and posted a .371 average in the 2022 Arizona Fall League while leading the league in at-bats and doubles.
Other Performances
He also starred for the Team USA Collegiate National Baseball Team during the summer after his freshman year, batting .395 in 14 games, and won district MVP and first-team All-State honors in both his junior and senior years at Randall High School.
Heston Kjerstad Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Heston Sawyer Kjerstad’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and the support structure around him in the Texas Panhandle helped shape his path from high school standout to first-round draft pick and major leaguer.
Personal Life
Kjerstad keeps much of his personal life private. His “Silent J” nickname has become part of his public identity, a nod to the quiet pronunciation of his surname, and he continues to focus on his development within the Baltimore Orioles organization.
2025 Season Performance
Through the 2025 season, Kjerstad’s big-league production has been measured, with a batting average around .218, 10 home runs, and 36 runs batted in across his MLB opportunities. The Orioles have used him in a complementary role, mixing time in the outfield and at first base while he continues to refine his approach against major league pitching.
His power-hitting profile remains his most attractive trait, and the grand slam against the Texas Rangers in 2024 underscored his ability to change a game with one swing. The organization has prioritized keeping him involved at the big-league level while also allowing him to gather everyday at-bats when needed.
Looking ahead, Kjerstad’s focus is on turning his raw tools into consistent major league results, whether as an everyday corner bat or a productive platoon option. His trajectory from second overall pick to All-Star Futures Game participant to major league home run hitter provides a strong foundation for sustained contribution in Baltimore.
