Impact Kessinger cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and now has been cut loose. He should find work elsewhere with an organization looking to add utility infield depth.
APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE
GRAE KESSINGER #16 - THIRD BASEMAN - ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Released by Arizona The Diamondbacks released Kessinger on Sunday.
A.J. Puk put on IL with elbow inflammation as Diamondbacks shuffle bullpen
Left-hander AAPRIL 19 • Associated Press
Dropped from 40-man The Diamondbacks designated Kessinger for assignment Saturday.
Impact Kessinger has spent the entire season at Triple-A Reno, where he's slashed .235/.447/.324 through 47 plate appearances. The D-backs needed to make room on their 40-man roster after selecting J.P. Feyereisen and Juan Morillo to the active roster, so Kessinger will end up as the roster casualty. With a career .456 OPS in the majors, the 27-year-old infielder should have a decent shot at clearing waivers.
APRIL 19 • ROTOWIRE
Sent to Triple-A The Diamondbacks optioned Kessinger to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact The 27-year-old was acquired from the Astros during the offseason after being designated for assignment, and he had a solid showing at the plate during spring training with a .294/.391/.353 slash line in 23 plate appearances. Kessinger is likely to spent most of 2025 with Reno but could receive a look in the big leagues if Arizona suffers some infield injuries.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
D-backs acquire infielder Kessinger in trade with Astros The D-backs on Wednesday acquired infielder Grae Kessinger from the Astros in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Matthew Linskey. K...
JANUARY 8 • MLB.COM
Shipped to Arizona The Astros traded Kessinger to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in exchange for Matthew Linskey, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact The signing of Christian Walker caused Kessinger to lose his spot on Houston's 40-man roster in December, and he will now look to work his way back into the majors in the D-backs organization. The 27-year-old infielder owns just a .456 OPS through 70 career MLB plate appearances but slashed .262/.337/.388 over 67 Triple-A games last season. He'll most likely remain in the minors upon joining his new club.
JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE
Designated for assignment The Astros designated Kessinger for assignment Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Christian Walker, which was made official Monday. Kessinger, 27, is 8-for-61 at the plate over the last two seasons in the majors and has a career .694 OPS in the minors, but it's possible he'll draw interest from a team in need of utility infielder depth.
DECEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Rejoins major-league club The Astros recalled Kessinger from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Kessinger will give the Astros another infielder while Jose Altuve (side) is banged up. He's hitless in 15 at-bats at the major-league level this season.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Back down to Sugar Land The Astros optioned Kessinger to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Impact The move corresponds with the Astros selecting the contract of infielder Aledmys Diaz. Kessinger appeared in four games for the Astros since being called up July 2, going 0-for-4 while serving mostly as a defensive substitute. He has yet to record a hit over his 15 major-league plate appearances this season, and he'll return to Sugar Land where he is slashing .283/.356/.387 across 118 plate appearances.
JULY 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Recalled from Triple-A The Astros recalled Kessinger from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 in Houston reports.
Impact Kessinger is hitless in 11 at-bats during his time with the big club this season. He will give the Astros some defensive versatility on the infield.
JULY 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Sunday's Transactions BASEBALL Major League Baseball American League HOUSTON ASTROS — Assigned SS Grae Kessinger to Sugar Land (PCL) on a rehab assignment.
MAY 5, 2024 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Initiates rehab assignment Kessinger (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Kessinger has been on the 10-day injured list since April 30 with right shoulder discomfort. Once he's activated from the IL, Kessinger will likely see limited opportunities with the Astros as a utility infielder.
MAY 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Makes season debut Monday Kessinger (hamstring) grounded out in his lone plate appearance in Monday's 10-0 loss to the Blue Jays.
Impact Kessinger didn't see make any Grapefruit League or exhibition appearances after March 18 while he recovered from a right hamstring strain, but he showcased enough improvement last week to be included on the Astros' Opening Day roster as a reserve infielder. With the Astros building a 10-run lead after seven innings, Kessinger got the chance to make his season debut in the bottom of the eighth as a pinch hitter for designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. He's still waiting to make his debut in the field, but Kessinger at least looks to be healthy now.
APRIL 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Makes ALDS roster Kessinger is listed on the Astros' ALDS roster, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Kessinger played a minimal role with the Astros during the regular season, slashing .200/.289/.325 across just 45 plate appearances. However, he went 3-for-12 with a homer against left-handed pitchers, so Kessinger may enter occasionally to pinch hit against southpaws.
OCTOBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Chandler Rome: The Astros' September call-ups are infielder... - The Athletic The Astros' September call-ups are infielder Grae Kessinger and right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Activated to MLB roster Houston activated Kessinger (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Kessinger has been away from the Astros since Aug. 19 due to COVID-like symptoms. The 26-year-old infielder returns to a .194/.293/.333 slash line through his first 41 major-league plate appearances.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Plays in rehab game Kessinger (illness) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a walk while playing nine innings at third base.
Impact Kessinger has already spent the required seven days on the COVID-19-related injured list, so he'll be eligible for activation whenever the Astros deem him ready. Prior to being deactivated, Kessinger had been seeing light work as a utility man for Houston.
AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Chandler Rome: The Astros placed Grae Kessinger on the injured... - The Athletic The Astros placed Grae Kessinger on the injured list on Saturday due to "health and safety protocols," which the team frequently uses to des...
AUGUST 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Lands on injured list Kessinger was placed on the injured list Saturday due to health and safety protocols, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact The ambiguous language used by the Astros matches the language typically used when players land on the COVID-19 injured list. Assuming that's the case, it's difficult to say exactly when Kessinger will be able to return. Corey Julks was called up to take his roster spot.
AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Gets leadoff look Kessinger is starting at second base and batting leadoff Saturday versus Oakland.
Impact Kessinger has made a nice impression in limited action since being called up by the Astros in early June, boasting an .890 OPS through his first 24 major-league plate appearances. Mauricio Dubon is on the bench Saturday and Jose Altuve (oblique) is likely to be on the injured list for another week.
JULY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Smacks first career homer Kessinger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.
Impact Though Kessinger had appeared in just six games since being called up in early June, he drew the starting nod Tuesday after Jose Altuve (oblique) was scratched from the lineup. Kessinger got to work early, hitting a solo homer off Kyle Freeland in the third for his first MLB round-tripper, then followed it up with a single in the eighth for his first career multi-hit game. With Altuve and Jeremy Pena (neck) each battling lingering injuries, Kessinger could receive more action in the near future if either of the pair misses more time.
JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Rookies shine for Astros as Kessinger homers, Julks has 4 hits in 4-1 win over Rockies
Rookie Grae Kessinger hit his first career home run and fellow rookie Corey Julks had a career-high four hits to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over the Colorado RockiesJULY 4, 2023 • Associated Press
From a childhood visit to the ballpark, Grae Kessinger envisioned his major league moment With a major league legacy behind him, Grae Kessinger dreamed this moment could come. Now concerns for Jose Altuve made it a reality
JUNE 6, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Contract officially selected Kessinger had his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Impact Kessinger is set to make his major-league debut after he produced a .284 average with six homers, 32 RBI, 37 runs and two stolen bases over 176 at-bats in 52 games with Sugar Land this season. Although he's not in the starting lineup Monday, he'll likely draw a start during the Astros' four-game series with Toronto as Jose Altuve (oblique) continues to remain out of the lineup.
JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Set to be called up The Astros plan to promote Kessinger from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.
Impact Kessinger was a second-round pick in 2019 and will be in line to make his major-league in the coming days. The 25-year-old began the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land and slashed .284/.400/.443 with six homers, 37 runs, 32 RBI and two stolen bases. Kessinger's playing time will likely depend on whether Jose Altuve (oblique) is available for the start of the Astros' upcoming series in Toronto.
JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
