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BALTIMORE -- Heston Kjerstad’s initial 13-game stint in the big leagues last season provided a four-week period of his life he’ll never forget.

On Sept. 14, the Orioles called up the 24-year-old Kjerstad (the club’s No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 24 overall prospect) to provide some left-handed pop during their stretch run. Baltimore went on to win the American League East title for the first time since 2014, finishing with a 101-61 record and making its first postseason appearance since ‘16.

Among the most memorable moments of the Orioles’ postseason-clinching celebration on Sept. 17 was Kjerstad -- four days into his MLB career -- getting dumped into a laundry cart by teammates and sprayed with champagne and kitchen condiments, a belated celebration of his first big league home run that came in a loss two nights earlier.

“The way I put it to a lot of people is: Everything I thought it was going to be, it was 100 times better,” Kjerstad said of his first taste of the Majors during a recent interview with MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo. “Everything you could have dreamed up in your head or thought you were going to experience, it was way better than I even thought it would be.”

Kjerstad didn’t get a ton of opportunities to showcase his potent bat, getting 33 scattered plate appearances over the final weeks of the regular season. The outfielder played only 21 2/3 innings on defense. And although he was included on Baltimore’s 26-man postseason roster, he never made an appearance in the AL Division Series as the team got swept by Texas, 3-0.

In 2024, Kjerstad should have a bigger role for the Orioles. But first, he’ll need to try to win an Opening Day roster spot during Spring Training.

Baltimore’s starting outfield will again be composed of Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander. With Aaron Hicks departing via free agency, though, there’s going to be playing time available in the outfield rotation.

The candidates for the role of fourth outfielder will include Kjerstad, Colton Cowser (the O’s No. 2 prospect), Kyle Stowers, Sam Hilliard and Ryan McKenna. It remains possible that the Orioles could sign a veteran free-agent outfielder, but it’s not a necessity because of their depth.

“I knew going into [last] year if I could perform the way I did in the [Arizona] Fall League and perform the way I’m capable of, or to the standard I hold myself to,” Kjerstad said, “I should have a really good shot of making the big league team to help them out.”

The same will be true heading into 2024, especially because Kjerstad has raked everywhere he’s been since the aforementioned ‘22 AFL campaign.

Look at the offensive numbers Kjerstad has put up dating back to October 2022:

Because of his prowess with the bat, Kjerstad should be factored into Baltimore’s rotation at designated hitter. But the club remains confident he can be involved with his glove, too. General manager Mike Elias doesn’t foresee a full-time move to first base (where Kjerstad worked sporadically in 2023), but rather more reps in the outfield.

“He’s a good defender in right field in the dimensions in Camden Yards,” Elias said at the Winter Meetings in December. “He’s not a center fielder, but with the stick he brings, it profiles well in the corner outfield, and I think right field is a good spot for him. He can throw well, too.”

Whether Kjerstad’s next big league game is March 28 (Opening Day vs. the Angels at Camden Yards) or later in the year, he’s eager for more big league baseball. His brief time in Baltimore late last season likely only whetted his appetite.

“Really exciting, really fun to be a part of it. And luckily, a really great clubhouse to come into,” Kjerstad said. “Everybody brings you in, they just want you to help the team in any way you can and just give it your all.”

Seven players have had a 40-homer season with the Orioles. Who of the following is not among that group?

The Orioles are set to hold an opening ceremony for their new 22.5-acre training academy in Guerra, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday morning. The complex will serve as the club’s facility for its Caribbean, Central and South American player development operations while also housing more than 100 players, coaches and staff for on-site education.

“This academy is the culmination of years of hard work by so many people, and I am grateful to everyone who made this a reality,” Elias said in a statement. “For the last several years, one of the main goals of our partnership group and front office has been to excel in Latin America, and I am very pleased by what we as an organization, led by [vice president of international scouting and operations] Koby Perez, have accomplished in this sector.”

The following will be attending the ceremony: Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader, vice minister of sports Elvis Duarte and commissioner of baseball Junior Noboa; Elias and Perez; Orioles players Félix Bautista and Jorge Mateo; and former O’s Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Hanser Alberto, Daniel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Radhames Liz, Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada.

I’ll also be on site in the Dominican Republic, so make sure to follow @JakeDRill on X for live coverage of the event, then read more about it later at Orioles.com.

• The Orioles finalized their 2024 coaching staff, which features new pitching coach Drew French and a pair of promotions. More >>

• Of Baltimore’s 17 arbitration-eligible players, 12 agreed to contract terms with the club (eight did so Thursday). Five are scheduled for arbitration hearings. More >>

• Once again, the O’s farm system was voted the best in baseball in MLB Pipeline’s poll of executives. More >>

D. Boog Powell

Powell never hit 40 home runs in a season, but he slugged 39 in 1964.

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