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.