Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad is heading to the free agent market after clearing outright waivers, Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reports. The team previously designated him for assignment, per Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun.
This ends a bitterly disappointing Baltimore tenure for Kjerstad, who has fallen well short of expectations since the team took him second overall in the 2020 draft. Kjerstad missed the 2021 season with myocarditis, delaying his major league debut until 2023. Since then, the lefty-swinging Kjerstad has batted a meek .217/.280/.359 (80 wRC+) with 10 home runs and below-average strikeout and walk rates of 29.