With the No. 2 pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected Heston Kjerstad, an outfielder out of Arkansas.
The Amarillo, Texas, native has displayed enormous power, with only Spencer Torkelson possessing more pop among college players. In his first year at Arkansas, Kjerstad broke the school's freshman record for home runs.
Orioles GM Mike Elias said the Orioles "absolutely loved his bat" after selecting him second overall.
Bio
Age: 21
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R
School: Arkansas
Pick value: $7,789,900
Tools
- Above-average power to all fields
- 70-grade future raw power
- Consistent
- Impressive arm strength
Why you're going to love this guy
- Best left-handed power in class
- 14 HRs in first year, setting freshman record at Arkansas
- Only No.1 pick Spencer Torkelson graded better in power among college players
- Championship makeup after back-to-back College World Series appearances in his first two years at Arkansas
Things he'll need to overcome
- Complicated swing including high leg kick
- Aggressive approach can lead to high number of strikeouts
- Below average running times out of batter's box
2020 stats
| PA | H | HR | AVG | OPS | BB/K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | 30 | 6 | .448 | 1.304 | 7/9 |
Take a look ...
(Video source: Wheels on YouTube)
