As the roster expands to 28 players, the Orioles are set to bring up two more pieces from Triple-A Norfolk: outfielder/designated hitter Heston Kjerstad and left-handed reliever Luis De León.
Kjerstad, taken No. 2 overall in the 2020 draft, has been working back after missing the first six weeks with a strained right hamstring. Once he settled in at Norfolk, he put together a solid line there, batting .289 with a .799 OPS, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 79 games.
His big-league numbers are still modest. In 106 games across the last three seasons with Baltimore, Kjerstad is hitting .218 with a .649 OPS.
De León’s path looks a little different. The Orioles’ No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, is being added to the 40-man roster as part of the move.
He went 6-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 26 games and 22 starts between Norfolk and Double-A Chesapeake, striking out 121 and walking 53 in 99 innings. Baltimore has also tested him out of the bullpen recently, and he’s already made three relief appearances.
To make room, the Orioles have optioned left-hander Cade Povich to Norfolk after he allowed one run on four hits in five innings Monday night. The Baltimore Sun first reported that move, which was confirmed by an industry source.
There could be another roster decision coming soon, too. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. also could be activated for Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, and Baltimore would need to clear a spot for him as well.
The news on Kjerstad and De León was first reported by The Baltimore Banner and confirmed by an industry source.
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