Baltimore Orioles top prospects dealing with injury woes

If the Baltimore Orioles are going to climb their way out of the AL East cellar and contend, they need their top prospects to pan out. While the likes of Grayson Rodriguez and Adley Rutschman are giving plenty of hope for the future, and several intriguing pieces already in the majors, the Orioles appear to have a decent core to build around.

However, two prospects does not a rebuild make. The Orioles need to get more from their farm system, and from highly touted prospects as well. This includes Heston Kjerstad and DL Hall.

Baltimore Orioles top prospects dealing with health issues

Neither player was expected to be a part of the Orioles’ roster this season. Kjerstad was the second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, and is still years away. Hall may have gotten a look at the end of the season, but he was far more likely to get his chance in 2022.

But both players are battling health woes. Hall was placed on the Injured List in Double-A with elbow tendonitis following his most recent start. While his MRI did not show any structural damage to his elbow, the expectation is that he will be sidelined for several weeks.

That is actually the better news on the two fronts. Kjerstad was held out of the Orioles’ fall instructional camp because he was diagnosed with myocarditis. He suffered another setback on Wednesday, further pushing back his timeline to get back onto the diamond.

Both players are expected to play a key part in the Orioles’ future. Hall is expected to develop into a top of the rotation arm, someone that can join Rodrigez and John Means to give Baltimore a solid trio of home grown arms. Kjerstad is expected to develop into a middle of the order bat, a key part of the Orioles’ future lineup. But he has to be able to get on the diamond first.

The Baltimore Orioles need their top prospects to pan out in order to climb out of the AL East basement. Two of those prospects are dealing with health woes.