Future Watch: Heston Kjerstad Baseball Cards, Baltimore Orioles – Heston Kjerstad was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft. Who couldn’t use a 6-3, over 200-pound outfielder?
While attending the University of Arkansas, a baseball factory, Kjerstad slugged 37 home runs and 129 RBI in three seasons there. One home run was measured at 383 feet. There’s a reason Kjerstad was named a First Team Preseason All-American. He played in the College World Series once and, even in a losing situation, gained valuable experience. Now we know why he was the first outfielder taken in the draft.
This future all-star is the highest-drafted player hailing from Amarillo, Texas. Baseball runs in the family – his older brother Dex was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2010.
This powerful lefty can hit a home run to dead center or pull it with the best of them. Kjerstad makes a lot of solid contact, and these days that’s the name of the game. Getting on-base via the walk is something else this guy can do, and the more a player can set up his teammates just makes the entire team better. He reminds some of former Padres and Mets outfielder Kevin McReynolds, who also played for the Razorbacks.
This has been a tough year for Kjerstad. After he was drafted there was nowhere to play baseball. In October, the Orioles announced their 55-man roster to play instructional baseball. Kjerstad wasn’t on that list. Whatever kept him from playing wasn’t disclosed, but the team is expecting him to be back for spring training.
Collectors can find Heston Kerstad cards in 2020 Bowman Draft and an assortment of Panini sets, most of which show the outfielder in his USA Baseball gear. The photos, incidentally, came from 2019’s national collegiate team where, in 14 games, he batted .395 with two homeruns and eight RBI. Kjerstad talked about playing with the American team and experimenting at first base in the media interview below:
You can expect big things from this Heston Kjerstad. Collectors shouldn’t hesitate to add him to their collection. In a few years, expect him to be playing in Baltimore.
Future Watch: Heston Kjerstad Baseball Cards, Baltimore Orioles – Stats
| Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 19 | -1.7 | Arkansas | SEC | NCAA | 69 | 313 | 262 | 65 | 87 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 58 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 55 | .332 | .419 | .553 | .972 | 145 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 2019 | 20 | -0.8 | Arkansas | SEC | NCAA | 65 | 300 | 266 | 53 | 87 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 65 | .327 | .400 | .575 | .975 | 153 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | 21 | 0.1 | Arkansas | SEC | NCAA | 16 | 78 | 67 | 19 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9 | .448 | .513 | .791 | 1.304 | 53 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | ||
| All Levels (3 Seasons) | 150 | 691 | 595 | 137 | 204 | 34 | 1 | 37 | 129 | 9 | 0 | 54 | 129 | .343 | .421 | .590 | 1.011 | 351 | 9 | 33 | 0 | 9 | |||||||
Heston Kjerstad Baseball Cards, Baltimore Orioles – More Resources
- Spencer Torkelson MLB.com Player Profile
- Heston Kjerstad – Secondary Market Pricing
- Beckett Card Catalog – Spencer Torkelson Baseball Cards
- Heston Kjerstad on Twitter – @HestonKjerstad
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