Orioles call up OF Kyle Stowers, option OF Heston Kjerstad

In the midst of his power explosion since the start of spring training, the Baltimore Orioles added outfielder Kyle Stowers to the major league roster Monday.

In a corresponding move, the Orioles optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk.

Stowers, 26, had brief appearances for Baltimore in each of the past two seasons and made a case to make the Opening Day roster when he hit seven home runs in 14 games this past spring training. He was instead assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, where he has 11 more home runs in 36 games.

A second-round draft pick in 2019 out of Stanford, the San Diego-area native was just 2-for-30 in 14 games with the Orioles last season and did not have an extra-base hit. He had three home runs with 11 RBIs in 34 games for Baltimore in 2022.

Stowers has hit as many as 27 home runs in a minor league season (2021) and hit 21 in 75 minor league games last season.

Kjerstad, 25, was 2-for-14 in seven games and is 9-for-44 (.205) in 20 career games over the past two seasons.

In a separate move, the Orioles reinstated outfielder Austin Hays from the injured list after he missed time with a strained calf, while outfielder Ryan McKenna was designated for assignment. Hays was 5-for-45 with two RBIs in 19 games, while McKenna was 3-for-8 with two homers in nine games.

The roster changes come with the Orioles set to play host to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

--Field Level Media