Kjerstad named All-American

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad was named an All-American on Tuesday by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

The publication’s All-America team is the only one issued thus far for the college baseball season that was cut short after March 12 by the coronavirus pandemic.

Kjerstad, a unanimous preseason All-American, was hitting .448 with 6 home runs, 20 RBI and 19 runs scored through the first 15 games. The Amarillo, Texas, native had a .513 on-base percentage and a .791 slugging percentage in 67 at-bats and had a hit in every game.

The junior, who is expected to be a firstround draft pick in next month’s Major League Baseball Draft, became the 28th All-American recipient in Arkansas baseball history.

Kjerstad hit .581 (7 of 12) during an opening weekend sweep of Eastern Illinois with 4 home runs and 10 RBI, and all his hits drove in at least one run. He picked up Collegiate Baseball national player of the week honors for that big performance, and he was also named SEC co-player of the week.

Kjerstad had multiple-hit games in all three of Arkansas’ games at the Shriner’s College Classic, with his .538 average in Houston earning all-tournament honors.

Kjerstad hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 5-3 win over South Alabama on March 8, the first walk-off home run by a Razorback in exactly seven years.

Kjerstad led the SEC with 30 hits, 53 total bases and his .791 slugging percentage at the time of the suspension.