CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 13: Baltimore Orioles Outfielder Heston Kjerstad (13) walks back to the dugout before the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 13, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
Heston Kjerstad, the overall No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, whose career has been undercut by injuries, has cleared waivers and will become a free agent.
In another move on Monday, the Orioles declined the $7.5 million on first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle, according to published reports.
The Orioles also cut ties with outfielder Leody Taveras, who played 139 games, hitting .219 with eight home runs and 56 RBIs and a .633 OPS. Taveras passed through waivers and declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.
Kjerstad, who didn’t play professionally until 2022 due to myocarditis — an enlarging of the heart tissue — played only 117 games with the Orioles from 2023-2026. He hit .217 with a .649 OPS, 10 home runs and 38 RBIs.
In 2024, Kjerstad was hit on the helmet by a pitch by the New York Yankees’ Clay Holmes, and he missed time with that.
In 2025, Kjerstad played 54 games, the most he’s played in the major leagues, and hit only .192 but didn’t play with the Orioles after June 6th. He was sent to Triple-A Norfolk, and after hitting only .149 in 27 games, he was put on the minor league injured list with an undisclosed condition and didn’t play after July 25th.
This year, Kjerstad suffered a strained right hamstring and played just 11 big league games in September, going 4-for-19 (.211) with two RBIs.
Catcher Yohel Pozo, who hit .259 in 19 games with the Orioles, and right-hander Yosver Zulueta also passed through waivers and will become free agents.
The Orioles claimed four players off waivers — right-hander Josh White from the Miami Marlins, catcher Zach Morgan from the San Francisco Giants, left-hander Philip Abner from the New York Mets, and right-hander Chase Hampton from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Abner has a 6.75 ERA in 18 games with the Giants and Arizona in 2025 and 2026. White allowed five runs on a hit and four walks in 2/3 innings in one game for Miami this season. Hampton, who pitched in the Yankees organization for the last four seasons and Morgan, who’s played in the Giants’ organization for five seasons have yet to play in the majors.
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