2020 MLB Draft

Orioles sign first-round pick Heston Kjerstad

The Orioles have signed their first-round draft pick, University of Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Kjerstad’s contract is for $5.2 million, according to MLB.com.

Kjerstad, a surprise pick with the second overall selection, signed for well below the $7,789,800 slot value.

In three seasons at Arkansas, Kjerstad hit .343 in 150 games. Kjerstad had 37 home runs and 129 RBIs. In his pandemic-shortened junior season, Kjerstad hit .448 in 16 games with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

The Orioles used some of those savings to reach agreements with their fourth- and fifth-round picks, Florida high school third baseman Coby Mayo and Iowa high school right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler.

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Mayo’s agreement was for a reported $1.75 million and Baumler’s was $1.5 million. The signings of Mayo and Baumler have not been made official

On Saturday, the Orioles signed Mississippi State infielder Jordan Westburg, their selection in the competitive balance round, the 30th overall pick, for a reported $2,365,500, and their second-round pick, Tulane outfielder Hudson Haskin, for a reported $1,906,800.

The Orioles have slightly over $1 million left to sign Mississippi infielder Anthony Servideo, their third-round selection and only unsigned pick. The slot bonus for the 74th pick is $844,200.

Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

View Comments

  • Good to see. Now let's find a way to get these guys playing ball and developing. Heard the Minor Leagues are meeting today to salvage a season of there own. Question Rich--now that Kjerstad's signed for his $5.2 million is it possible that Martin at #5 will get more than a #2?

  • Explain to be how the O’s signed Mayo and Baumler with money saved by the Kjerstad signing when I’d read about their signings while Kjerstad was still unsigned. How does that work?

  • Now I see why they picked him . I like it that they had money left to sign all the others. I don’t like it because he wasn’t the second best player in the draft

      • Then why don't you two become Tiger fans??? I heard they could use a couple of crybabies... lol

    • Tigers added two signees to their 60 man roster, Torkelson & their 2nd rd pick, Dingler, a catcher, one of six catchers they’ll have in camp...go O’s...

        • Stipulation for putting a player on the 60 man roster: Removing a player from the 60-man list has consequences, just as it does with the 40-man roster. Once a player is removed from the 60-man list, he can not be added back to that team’s list during the season. HE CAN BE ADDED TO ANOTHER TEAM’S LIST. THIS MEANS HE WOULD BE ON WAIVERS FOR ANY OTHER TEAM TO CLAIM.

    • Again, names, #1 can’t even remember things he has said...again...sooo easy...go O’s...

      • I told you before like I'm telling you now, you and brr sarcasm and instigating tactics always start this crap and I'll always finish it!!! You guys stop and I'll stop. My memory is like a steel trap.

    • Sooo easy, I’m guessing a rusty steel trap, Boog, can you guess if #1 scouted himself what the report could say, “Easy to break, not mentally tough, can crawl right in his head w/the simplest things...lmao...go O’s...

  • That's your winning line? So, easy. So you instigate trouble and I'm supposed to look the other way. Sounds to me like your the one that can't take it when it's thrown back at you! You like to dish it out but can't take it! Btw, scouting report would say - people that know this guy love this guy. Give you the shirt off his back. Straight shooter but don't mess with him.

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Rich Dubroff

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