Former Diamond Hog Heston Kjerstad was called up to the Majors at the end of June, returning to the Orioles dugout for the second time this year. He averages .314 with an on-base percentage of .417 and has 12 RBIs.
On Friday, Baltimore lost 4-1 to the Yankees, but not before drama unfolded in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and up by three, Yankees' pitcher Clay Holmes beaned Kjerstad with a 97-mile-per-hour fastball. Kjerstad dropped straight to the ground and had to leave the game.
While walking back to the Orioles dugout with Kjerstad, Baltimore's manager Brandon Hyde turned around as if he heard chirping from the Yankees dugout and walked aggressively toward them while pointing his finger. That prompted the benches and bullpens to clear. After a couple of minutes of shoving at home plate, the crowd was broken up, Hyde was ejected, and the game continued.
Benches clear in Baltimore after Clay Holmes hits Heston Kjerstad in the head. pic.twitter.com/R4VDk2pnqC
— Nelson Dorsey (@TheBirdlandBeat) July 13, 2024
This isn't the first time Kjerstad was hit by a Yankee pitcher this season. He was hit back in May by Ian Hamilton. It seems to be a trend for New York as they've hit ten Orioles batters since April, while Baltimore has his three in the same period.
Orioles plunked by Yankees:
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) July 13, 2024
Henderson, April 19
Kjerstad, May 1
Mateo, May 2
Santander, May 2
Cowser, May 2
Cowser, June 19
Henderson, June 19
Hays, June 20
Westburg, June 20
Kjerstad, July 12
Yankees plunked by Orioles:
Rizzo, May 2
Judge, June 18
Torres, June 18