Orioles OF Heston Kjerstad placed on 7-day concussion list

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad was scratched from Saturday’s starting lineup against the New York Yankees and placed on the seven-day concussion list.

Kjerstad was beaned by a 96 mph sinker from New York closer Clay Holmes on Friday. The benches cleared after the ninth-inning incident.

Kjerstad exited the contest after being hit and underwent testing.

On Saturday, Kjerstad went through his pregame routine and didn’t feel fully recovered. About 90 minutes before first pitch, he was scratched and Austin Hays replaced him as the starting left fielder.

Baltimore also recalled outfielder Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk to fill the roster opening. Stowers, 26, is batting .286 with one homer and nine RBIs in 17 games for the Orioles this season.

After Kjerstad was hit, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde heatedly headed toward the Yankees dugout and the benches emptied. Hyde was ejected.

Holmes said the hit by pinch wasn’t intentional.

“You never try to hit somebody in the head … up high like that,” Holmes said after Friday’s game. “Definitely hope that (Kjerstad) is all good (Saturday), but it’s one of those things where the conditions weren’t great, and I was trying to throw a front door sinker there and it just cut.”

The Yankees won the contest 4-1.

Kjerstad, 25, is batting .314 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 21 games for Baltimore. He was the second overall pick of the 2020 draft by the Orioles.

Baltimore also optioned left-hander Cade Povich to Norfolk and recalled right-hander Vinny Nittoli. Povich, 24, is 1-4 with a 6.27 ERA in seven starts for the Orioles.

Nittoli, 33, had pitched for four other teams over the past four seasons. He is 0-1 with a 3.07 ERA over 13 career relief appearances.

–Field Level Media