The Orioles have activated Heston Kjerstad from the 60-day injured list, and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
Hjerstad has been on the IL all season due to a hamstring strain, and he slashed .255/.288/.327 in 14 rehab games between Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk.
The former No. 2 overall pick was expected to be a key part of the O’s young core in recent and coming year, but in parts of three MLB seasons, he has slashed just .218/.284/.365 with 10 homers and 36 RBI in 314 plate appearances, with a nearly 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio.
He has also dealt with numerous injuries, including a pair of stings on the MLB concussion IL, and he missed the end of last season with an unspecified issue that manifested as severe fatigue.
Should he spend more than 20 days in the minors, he will use up his final minor-league option season, so this could be a make-or-break summer for the 27-year-old.
