Heston Kjerstad talks about rejoining the Orioles today

DETROIT – Heston Kjerstad is back with the Orioles, finally free of concussion symptoms and feeling good about his swing and his health.

He is batting fourth as the DH today, so thrust right back into the mix in a prominent spot. He wants to help an offense that has produced just 15 runs in five games this road trip. Over the last nine games, in going 3-6, Baltimore batters are averaging 2.1 runs per game with a team OPS of .583.

Kjerstad is ready to try and provide a boost with his bat.

“Oh 100 percent. All of us want to provide that boost. Maybe I can bring that. It’s a great lineup we have here. Baseball, you want to play well and the offense, we need to get rolling a bit better. All it takes is one. Once one goes, the rest of the offense will roll with him, so we’ll get it rolling here,” he said.

After he was hit in the helmet July 12, Kjerstad went on the seven-day concussion injured list. He returned eight days later but the symptoms lingered.

“Kept on kind of having some symptoms and the team was like, ‘We need to get this checked out, get you healthy.’ So went to a specialist and there were some things that weren’t right. Was able to get a couple of weeks there and do some P.T. (physical therapy) and get back to full health. Feeling good, feeling healthy. Ready to help the team for this last push.

“Little bit of headaches still lingering. The main one was my balance and a couple things of that nature were still off,” he said.

Kjerstad said some work on his balance and eye tracking was needed and “they got me back right.”

Missing time and uncertainty of the concussion symptoms was an added concern.

“It wasn’t enjoyable, that’s for sure," Kjerstad said. "You always want to be healthy too. Hate missing games. That is all I really want to do is play baseball so any time on the sideline is not enjoyable. But it’s part of the career path and it’s just something you have to stay positive and work through."

But Kjerstad remained confident he would make it back this season.

“Everybody I worked with was like ‘couple of weeks, you’ll be back at it rolling.’ So I was really confident I would be back soon," he stated.

He went 4-for-13 with a double and three RBIs the last four games playing with Double-A Bowie. He used a car service drive last night from Erie, Pa. where Bowie was playing, arriving in Detroit around 1 a.m.

Meanwhile, reliever Jacob Webb also rejoins the Orioles today. That certainly boosts the bullpen with a return of a pitcher with an ERA of 3.08 over 53 games. He was on the IL with right elbow inflammation and his last O’s game was Aug. 2.

Webb made four rehab appearances in the minors, three scoreless outings for Triple-A Norfolk and one where he allowed four runs over a 1/3 of an inning Sept. 4 at Bowie.

“I feel like most of them went well. The one in Bowie I had, kind of all over the place a little bit. But the other three I felt really sharp and felt like I had all my stuff,” said Webb.

Now he’s excited to help the O’s make their playoff push in the final 13 games.

“Really excited to be a part of this team and help however I can,” he said.

So Kjerstad and Webb were added today and pitcher Cole Irvin and infielder/outfielder Nick Maton were designated for assignment. The O's 40-man roster is at 38. 

Webb and Kjerstad are two more IL players returning. Webb said he hopes that this list keeps growing as the team keeps getting good talent back from the IL.

“I think we have faith in all the guys in this clubhouse,” he said. “We have a great team here and I’m looking forward to helping this team win a couple more games.”