Holliday and Kjerstad are rehabbing in Norfolk, one looked close to a return

The rehab assignments of Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad became the biggest story in Norfolk this week, and on Tuesday night, the two young Orioles gave Tides fans exactly what they came to see.

The Norfolk Tides opened their series in Charlotte with a 9-6 win over the Charlotte Knights, but the final score almost felt secondary compared to the return of two of Baltimore’s most important young players.

For the Orioles organization, this is about much more than Triple-A baseball.

This is about getting two potential impact bats healthy and back into rhythm as Baltimore tries to stay competitive in the American League race.

And for one night, both Holliday and Kjerstad showed flashes of why the Orioles still believe heavily in both players.

Kjerstad looked especially sharp.

The left-handed slugger finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in his first rehab appearance with Norfolk. His swing looked quick through the zone, and more importantly, he looked comfortable attacking pitches again.

That matters.

Kjerstad’s professional career has been filled with flashes of elite power mixed with frustrating health setbacks. The former second overall pick has battled through myocarditis earlier in his career, multiple concussion-related scares, and stretches where injuries completely disrupted his development. Despite all of that, the raw talent has never disappeared.

When healthy, Kjerstad has proven he can mash.

In 2024 with Norfolk, he put together one of the most ridiculous offensive performances in franchise history when he drove in 10 runs against Charlotte in a single game. He also reached the majors and showed flashes of the power that made him one of the best hitters in college baseball at Arkansas.

Now the Orioles are hoping this rehab assignment is the beginning of another reset.

The encouraging part for Baltimore is how aggressive Kjerstad looked at the plate Tuesday night. He was driving the baseball instead of simply trying to survive at-bats. His RBI double was vintage Kjerstad — quick hands, hard contact, and the ability to punish mistakes.

If he can stay healthy, there is still everyday middle-of-the-order potential in that bat.

Then there is Holliday.

Even when the stat line is quiet, the attention follows him everywhere.

The former No. 1 overall prospect in baseball made his return to Triple-A action while continuing his rehab assignment, finishing 0-for-4 on Tuesday while playing third base.

But the most important development was not the box score.

It was where he played.

The Orioles had Holliday working at third base as part of an effort to increase his defensive versatility. With Jordan Westburg dealing with elbow issues and Baltimore searching for lineup flexibility, the organization clearly wants Holliday capable of moving around the infield.

That could become huge later in the season.

Holliday’s rehab process has been closely monitored after the hand injury that delayed the start of his year. Fans have been waiting months to see him consistently back on the field again, and the Orioles know they need his bat sooner rather than later.

Even though Tuesday’s stat line was empty, Holliday showed signs of settling back into game speed during the week. By Thursday, he had already recorded a 1-for-3 performance with a walk while rotating back to second base.

The tools are still obvious every time he steps on the field.

His swing remains smooth. The approach remains advanced. The athleticism remains elite.

What Baltimore needs now is simply reps.

That is why these rehab assignments matter so much.

The Orioles are not just trying to get two players healthy. They are trying to get two potential impact contributors fully prepared for meaningful major league baseball later this summer.

And Norfolk suddenly became must-watch baseball because of it.

The Tides themselves have struggled for consistency this season, entering the week well below .500, but Tuesday’s win over Charlotte showed exactly how dangerous this lineup can become when reinforcements arrive. Norfolk pounded out 17 hits in the victory while getting home runs from Reed Trimble and José Barrero.

That offensive depth becomes even more dangerous if Holliday and Kjerstad begin heating up simultaneously.

For Orioles fans, that is the real takeaway from this series.

The numbers in Triple-A are nice. The wins are nice. But this is about the bigger picture.

Baltimore still believes Jackson Holliday can become a franchise cornerstone. Baltimore still believes Heston Kjerstad can become a dangerous power bat in the middle of the lineup.

And after watching both players return to the field in Norfolk this week, it is easy to understand why the optimism remains.