Last year, Kyle Stowers learned he was being optioned back to the minor leagues on Mother’s Day, and what followed was the most difficult stretch of his career.
The Orioles outfield prospect spent the rest of the season in the minors in a year that was derailed by injuries — first shoulder inflammation and then a fractured nose from a hit by pitch.
This Mother’s Day, he learned he would be rejoining the Orioles, which he did officially Monday before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards.
“A cool, full-circle moment,” Stowers said Monday in the Orioles’ clubhouse. “Obviously, a lot of work to be done, but it’s very exciting to be here.”
As one outfield prospect came up, though, another went down. To make room for Stowers on the 26-man roster, the Orioles optioned Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk. Kjerstad, who Baseball America ranks as the No. 36 prospect in the sport, barely played after his April promotion, receiving only 17 plate appearances across the 17 games he was on Baltimore’s roster.
“We feel like it was important for him to go play every day, get everyday at-bats,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I think this was a good experience for him to get up here for a couple weeks, get a couple starts, got some pinch-hit opportunities. But just kind of where we are health-wise in our outfield, which is pretty strong, we feel like we want him to go play every day.
“He’s a big part of our future going forward and it’s somebody we really believe in. I’m sure he’ll be back up here soon.”
Kjerstad, 25, went 2-for-14 with two walks and six strikeouts with shaky outfield defense during his brief tenure with the Orioles. The 2020 No. 2 overall pick made his MLB debut in September and posted a .748 OPS down the stretch, but he opened this season in the minors after slumping at the beginning of spring training as fellow outfield prospect Colton Cowser soared.
Cowser broke out in April to earn a near-everyday role in the Orioles’ outfield as Austin Hays slumped and then landed on the injured list with a calf injury. Hays was activated off the IL on Monday — replacing Ryan McKenna, who was designated for assignment — after missing the past three weeks. Hays, an All-Star last year, opened the season 5-for-45 before his injury, but he hit well during his minor league rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Bowie with five hits and two homers in 14 at-bats.
Hyde said it’s “day to day” on how the Orioles’ outfield shakes out with Hays and Stowers in the fold. However, barring injury, Stowers’ playing time will likely be similar to that of Kjerstad’s, as they’re both left-handed hitters.
Stowers, 26, is one of the best power hitters in Baltimore’s farm system. His 11 homers rank tied for second in the International League, only behind teammate and Orioles corner infield prospect Coby Mayo. Kjerstad hit 10 long balls before he was recalled.
Stowers, who Baseball America ranks as the Orioles’ 15th-best prospect, was slashing .240/.315/.541 — good for an .856 OPS — for the Tides this season. Since being drafted in 2019’s second round after the Orioles selected Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, Stowers has hit 84 homers in 385 minor league games.
The corner outfielder was a spring standpoint and made a surprise push to make the opening day roster, hitting seven homers with a 1.011 OPS in 45 plate appearances. But, like Kjerstad, he lost the outfield competition to Cowser.
“I know he had a tough year last year from an injury standpoint but he had a great spring training, swung the bat extremely well and was off to a good start in Norfolk hitting a bunch of homers,” Hyde said. “So, I haven’t seen him play yet this year, but we’re happy to have him.”
Stowers debuted with the Orioles in 2022, spent the final six weeks of that season in the majors and then broke camp with the big club to begin 2023 before he was demoted on Mother’s Day.
“Anyone that’s gotten a taste of the big leagues, this is where you want to be,” Stowers said. “When you’re not here, you do whatever you can to get back.”
Stowers said he is “ready to help this team win” regardless of his role. He said the difference between now and the previous three times he was called up is he doesn’t expect to be surprised by major league pitching or life in the big leagues.
“I know what I’m coming into,” he said. “I think that’s the difference.”
Kjerstad and Stowers made up two-fifths of the Norfolk Five — a handful of prospects who occupied the top five spots of the Tides’ lineup to begin the season. Jackson Holliday, the sport’s consensus No. 1 prospect, was the first to be called up, but he was sent back down after he slumped for a little more than two weeks. Kjerstad was the second and spent less than three weeks on Baltimore’s roster, and Stowers is now the third. Infield prospects Coby Mayo and Connor Norby, a duo that has combined to hit 21 homers with 64 RBIs, are still waiting to make their MLB debuts.
Stowers said he was excited for Holliday and Kjerstad when they got called up, but he hoped the next call would be for him.
“I was so happy for those guys, right, guys who are so deserving, so talented,” he said. “But, obviously, I want to be here too and want to compete at this level too. I don’t want to say ‘disappointing’ or ‘frustrating’ or anything like that. But just look at his clubhouse. It’s a fun group to be around [and], for me, a lot of guys that I came up with and it’s just a culture you want to be a part of who’s winning.
“What else would you want to do in this game than being on a team going for a playoff push and then hopefully this year a World Series push?”
Around the horn
• The Orioles on Monday claimed right-hander Corbin Martin off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Martin, 28, last appeared in the majors in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has a career 6.71 ERA across 57 2/3 major league innings. He posted a 7.20 ERA in 10 Triple-A innings between Arizona and Milwaukee’s affiliates. Martin continued the trend of the Orioles gobbling up players who general manager Mike Elias helped draft when he was in the Houston Astros’ front office. The Astros selected Martin in the second round of the 2017 draft.
• Hyde said right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder inflammation) is “getting close” to returning from the 15-day injured list. He is eligible to be activated Wednesday. Hyde said it’s “possible” Rodriguez avoids a rehab stint and starts this weekend.