Major League Baseball

Astros' Kellogg, 18, dies in car crash

Published Oct. 4, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Houston Astros prospect Dustin Kellogg was killed in an automobile accident late Monday night.

Kellogg died when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a freight truck in suburban Houston, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The DPS said the freight truck driver was not injured in the crash. Kellogg was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 18-year-old pitcher was picked by the Astros in the 34th round of this year's amateur draft. He appeared in six games for the Astros Gulf Coast League team and had a 1-1 record with a 4.26 ERA. He had nine strikeouts in the 6 1-3 innings he pitched.

''He was a great kid with high energy and a lot of confidence, and performed well for us after signing,'' Astros' assistant general manager and scouting director Bobby Heck said. ''This is a huge loss for everyone that knew him.''

Heck said Kellogg, who went to high school in the Houston suburb of Conroe, was very excited to be pitching for his hometown team and that the Astros were happy to ''make his dream come true.''

Houston general manager Ed Wade said his thoughts were with Kellogg's family and friends.

''We are deeply saddened by the news of Dustin's passing,'' Wade said. ''Although he had only been an Astros player for a short time, we share the pain of his family. Our prayers go out to Dustin's loved ones.''