Mets add Kessinger on Minors deal as INF depth (report)

The Mets added a former top prospect as infield depth on Tuesday, reportedly reaching agreement with Grae Kessinger on a Minor League contract that includes an invite to Spring Training, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The team has not confirmed the signing.

Kessinger, 28, was a second-round Draft pick by the Astros in 2019 out of the University of Mississippi who ranked among MLB Pipeline's top 30 Astros prospects from 2020-22. He's the grandson of longtime Cubs third baseman Don Kessinger and the son of Keith Kessinger, who played 11 games for the Reds in 1993.

The youngest Kessinger debuted with Houston in 2023, making 49 Major League appearances with the Astros before being designated for assignment in December 2024. The D-backs picked him up in 2025, and he played only 11 games at Triple-A before being released, and he spent the rest of the year as a free agent.

Though he didn't find any traction in his short stint in the bigs (.456 OPS, one homer in 70 plate appearances), Kessinger has been a solid contributor in Triple-A, with a .268 average, a .771 OPS and 12 home runs in 132 games at the Minors' highest level. He saw time at all four infield positions with the Astros, and he bounced around the dirt in the Minors as well, seeing most of his action at shortstop.

With offseason additions Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Vidal Bruján joining incumbents Francisco Lindor, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio, the Mets are well-stocked with infielders at the Major League level. Kessinger is likely ticketed for Triple-A out of camp to provide organizational depth in case of injury.