Grae Kessinger

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #22 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Kessinger spent three seasons at Mississippi, earning first-team all-Southeastern Conference as a junior. He was selected by the Astros in the second round of the 2019 draft and reached Low-A that year. After consecutive subpar seasons in 2021 and 2022 at Double-A Corpus Christi, Kessinger began 2023 with Triple-A Sugar Land. He hit .284/.400/.443 over 52 games with the Space Cowboys, splitting time between shortstop and third base. Kessinger was called up to the major leagues on June 7 and played in 26 games. Kessinger’s grandfather is six-time all-star Don Kessinger.
  
  Scouting Report: A polished infielder with average bat-to-ball skills and some sneaky pull side power, Kessinger shows the ability to make contact consistently and hit spin while rarely swinging and missing. He has solid on-base skills and rarely swings himself into outs. Kessinger’s power is fringe-average and he lacks the bat speed to handle premium velocity. Power is not a major part of his game. Kessinger is an average runner who gets the most out of his range in the infield with decisive movements. His arm is above-average, allowing him to handle the demanding throws on the left side of the infield.
  
  The Future: Kessinger is a utility infielder who can handle multiple positions and provide professional at-bats off the bench.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #12 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: No Astros prospect has richer bloodlines than Kessinger, whose father, uncle and, most notably, his grandfather, Don, all played professionally. Houston selected Grae in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Ole Miss and paid him $750,000. He spent his first full minor league season at Double-A Corpus Christi and ended it with a stint in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Kessinger does a lot of things well but nothing spectacular. His baseball instincts and makeup mask some shortcomings. Kessinger’s exit velocities jumped after he added some pre-pitch hand movement and widened the base of his stance to produce more line drive contact. He displays some of the organization’s best strike zone control and pitch recognition but has below-average raw power. Kessinger is an average defender with an average arm at shortstop and could easily shift to second or third base if asked. He played first base in the Arizona Fall League, but only due to team roster construction.
  
  The Future: The Astros view Kessinger as a major league average defender at shortstop but will continue to move him around the infield. He projects to be a utilityman, but if he can tap into some power, he could ascend to greater heights.
  
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #11 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Kessinger’s father Kevin played in the minors for the Cubs, and his uncle Keith played in the majors. His grandfather Don has the most accomplished baseball career in the family as a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi’s coach. Grae signed with the Astros for $750,000 as a second-rounder in 2019. With the 2020 season canceled, Kessinger focused on his conditioning before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger is a fundamentally sound player who gets the most out of tools that grade mostly as 40s and 50s. It starts with good bat control, pitch recognition and a disciplined offensive approach, enabling him to make frequent contact with all pitch types and draw walks. He has below-average raw power, but he hits the ball hard and his feel for the barrel could enable him to produce sneaky pop later, especially if he’s able to gets his hips and legs into his swing more. An average runner and thrower, Kessinger doesn’t have the typical first-step burst and range scouts prefer at shortstop. He reads the ball well off the bat and is a reliable defender on balls he gets to, so second or third base could work.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts see Kessinger as a future utilityman with risk he could hit a wall against upper-level pitchers.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Baseball is in Kessinger's blood. His grandfather Don was a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi's baseball coach. His father was a minor leaguer for the Cubs and his uncle Keith played in the majors with the Reds. Grae was the undisputed team leader for Ole Miss for three seasons.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger has above-average barrel control, showing a knack for making solid contact no matter what the count. He's a hitter more than a slugger, showing modest pull power that should produce below-average power. He is an average runner. Scouts do not see him having the quick reactions and smooth actions to remain at shortstop—everything he does is just a tick slower than ideal. But Kessinger is more playable at shortstop than most range-limited players because of his steady reliability. His average arm is not ideal at third base, but that spot could be a long-term fit. If not, he could be an offensive second baseman or a hit-first left fielder.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kessinger is the kind of well-rounded college performer who usually figures out a way to get to the majors. His bat and reliability could make him a multi-position backup, but usually teams prefer a better shortstop for that role.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #125 prospect in 2019 draft
  If Kessinger ends up being the best shortstop in his family, whichever team drafts him would be thrilled. After all, Grae's grandfather, Don, played over 2,000 games for the Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox, earning six All-Star appearances and two Gold Gloves. Kessinger has been Ole Miss' starting shortstop for three seasons. He's sure-handed and has an above-average arm, although, like many college shortstops, his range is fringe-average, which raises concerns about whether he can play there long term. At the plate, Kessinger was significantly overmatched as a freshman, but he's gotten stronger and has been especially effective in conference play this year, hitting .398 in SEC games, which ranks second in the league. He doesn't really have a plus tool, and he projects to be a .250-.260 hitter in pro ball with modest power. However, Kessinger's well-rounded skillset, solid numbers in a tough conference and his ability to play up the middle will likely push him into the late second or early third round on draft week.
• Ranked #192 prospect in 2016 draft
  The grandson of 16-year big leaguer Don Kessinger, Grae grew up around the Ole Miss program, where his father played and his grandfather coached in the 1990s. He may prove difficult to sign away from the Rebels program, especially becuase he has good tools but not spectacular ones. He's an average runner with average arm strength, who has solid actions and an internal clock that should keep him at shortstop, at least at the college level. Kessinger lacks a true plus tool that would help carry him through the lower levels of the minors, and he hit just .310 this spring against Mississippi prep competition.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: No Astros prospect has richer bloodlines than Kessinger, whose father, uncle and, most notably, his grandfather, Don, all played professionally. Houston selected Grae in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Ole Miss and paid him $750,000. He spent his first full minor league season at Double-A Corpus Christi and ended it with a stint in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Kessinger does a lot of things well but nothing spectacular. His baseball instincts and makeup mask some shortcomings. Kessinger’s exit velocities jumped after he added some pre-pitch hand movement and widened the base of his stance to produce more line drive contact. He displays some of the organization’s best strike zone control and pitch recognition but has below-average raw power. Kessinger is an average defender with an average arm at shortstop and could easily shift to second or third base if asked. He played first base in the Arizona Fall League, but only due to team roster construction.
  
  The Future: The Astros view Kessinger as a major league average defender at shortstop but will continue to move him around the infield. He projects to be a utilityman, but if he can tap into some power, he could ascend to greater heights.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Kessinger's father Kevin played in the minors for the Cubs, and his uncle Keith played in the majors. His grandfather Don has the most accomplished baseball career in the family as a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi's coach. Grae signed with the Astros for $750,000 as a second-rounder in 2019. With the 2020 season canceled, Kessinger focused on his conditioning before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger is a fundamentally sound player who gets the most out of tools that grade mostly as 40s and 50s. It starts with good bat control, pitch recognition and a disciplined offensive approach, enabling him to make frequent contact with all pitch types and draw walks. He has below-average raw power, but he hits the ball hard and his feel for the barrel could enable him to produce sneaky pop later, especially if he's able to gets his hips and legs into his swing more. An average runner and thrower, Kessinger doesn't have the typical first-step burst and range scouts prefer at shortstop. He reads the ball well off the bat and is a reliable defender on balls he gets to, so second or third base could work.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts see Kessinger as a future utilityman with risk he could hit a wall against upper-level pitchers.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Kessinger’s father Kevin played in the minors for the Cubs, and his uncle Keith played in the majors. His grandfather Don has the most accomplished baseball career in the family as a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi’s coach. Grae signed with the Astros for $750,000 as a second-rounder in 2019. With the 2020 season canceled, Kessinger focused on his conditioning before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger is a fundamentally sound player who gets the most out of tools that grade mostly as 40s and 50s. It starts with good bat control, pitch recognition and a disciplined offensive approach, enabling him to make frequent contact with all pitch types and draw walks. He has below-average raw power, but he hits the ball hard and his feel for the barrel could enable him to produce sneaky pop later, especially if he’s able to gets his hips and legs into his swing more. An average runner and thrower, Kessinger doesn’t have the typical first-step burst and range scouts prefer at shortstop. He reads the ball well off the bat and is a reliable defender on balls he gets to, so second or third base could work.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts see Kessinger as a future utilityman with risk he could hit a wall against upper-level pitchers.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Kessinger’s father Kevin played in the minors for the Cubs, and his uncle Keith played in the majors. His grandfather Don has the most accomplished baseball career in the family as a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi’s coach. Grae signed with the Astros for $750,000 as a second-rounder in 2019. With the 2020 season canceled, Kessinger focused on his conditioning before heading to instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger is a fundamentally sound player who gets the most out of tools that grade mostly as 40s and 50s. It starts with good bat control, pitch recognition and a disciplined offensive approach, enabling him to make frequent contact with all pitch types and draw walks. He has below-average raw power, but he hits the ball hard and his feel for the barrel could enable him to produce sneaky pop later, especially if he’s able to gets his hips and legs into his swing more. An average runner and thrower, Kessinger doesn’t have the typical first-step burst and range scouts prefer at shortstop. He reads the ball well off the bat and is a reliable defender on balls he gets to, so second or third base could work.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts see Kessinger as a future utilityman with risk he could hit a wall against upper-level pitchers.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Baseball is in Kessinger’s blood. His grandfather Don was a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi’s baseball coach. His father was a minor leaguer for the Cubs and his uncle Keith played in the majors with the Reds. Grae was the undisputed team leader for Ole Miss for three seasons.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger has above-average barrel control, showing a knack for making solid contact no matter what the count. He’s a hitter more than a slugger, showing modest pull power that should produce below-average power. He is an average runner. Scouts do not see him having the quick reactions and smooth actions to remain at shortstop—everything he does is just a tick slower than ideal. But Kessinger is more playable at shortstop than most range-limited players because of his steady reliability. His average arm is not ideal at third base, but that spot could be a long-term fit. If not, he could be an offensive second baseman or a hit-first left fielder.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kessinger is the kind of well-rounded college performer who usually figures out a way to get to the majors. His bat and reliability could make him a multi-position backup, but usually teams prefer a better shortstop for that role.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Baseball is in Kessinger's blood. His grandfather Don was a six-time all-star shortstop for the Cubs before becoming Mississippi's baseball coach. His father was a minor leaguer for the Cubs and his uncle Keith played in the majors with the Reds. Grae was the undisputed team leader for Ole Miss for three seasons.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kessinger has above-average barrel control, showing a knack for making solid contact no matter what the count. He's a hitter more than a slugger, showing modest pull power that should produce below-average power. He is an average runner. Scouts do not see him having the quick reactions and smooth actions to remain at shortstop—everything he does is just a tick slower than ideal. But Kessinger is more playable at shortstop than most range-limited players because of his steady reliability. His average arm is not ideal at third base, but that spot could be a long-term fit. If not, he could be an offensive second baseman or a hit-first left fielder.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kessinger is the kind of well-rounded college performer who usually figures out a way to get to the majors. His bat and reliability could make him a multi-position backup, but usually teams prefer a better shortstop for that role.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  If Kessinger ends up being the best shortstop in his family, whichever team drafts him would be thrilled. After all, Grae's grandfather, Don, played over 2,000 games for the Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox, earning six All-Star appearances and two Gold Gloves. Kessinger has been Ole Miss' starting shortstop for three seasons. He's sure-handed and has an above-average arm, although, like many college shortstops, his range is fringe-average, which raises concerns about whether he can play there long term. At the plate, Kessinger was significantly overmatched as a freshman, but he's gotten stronger and has been especially effective in conference play this year, hitting .398 in SEC games, which ranks second in the league. He doesn't really have a plus tool, and he projects to be a .250-.260 hitter in pro ball with modest power. However, Kessinger's well-rounded skillset, solid numbers in a tough conference and his ability to play up the middle will likely push him into the late second or early third round on draft week.