share-square-590988
The Orioles didn’t get to see Heston Kjerstad at their alternate training site or instructional camp last summer after selecting the slugging outfielder No. 2 in the 2020 Draft. On Friday, O’s GM/EVP Mike Elias revealed why.
Elias said Kjerstad was sidelined due to “an episode of myocarditis,” a viral infection that causes inflammation of the heart muscle. Elias said Kjerstad is expected to report to Spring Training late due to the condition.
“He’s doing really well and we’re going to have him at the camp, but we’re still emerging from the timeline of that,” Elias said. “It’s a bit of a lengthy recovery timeline and there are also risk factors associated with the ongoing pandemic we need to be very mindful and careful about as well.”