​On July 21, 2023, Grae Kessinger, wearing number 16 for the Houston Astros, was seen during batting practice at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California, as the Astros prepared for their game against the Oakland Athletics. This moment was captured by Brandon Vallance of Getty Images, showcasing Kessinger in the pregame routine as fans watched from the stands.
Earlier that week, on July 4, 2023, Kessinger delivered a solo home run in the third inning for the Astros against the Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The hit highlighted Kessinger’s power potential and was photographed by Bob Levey of Getty Images, illustrating a bright spot in Houston’s midseason performance.
In October 2023, a celebratory scene featured Kessinger and Yainer Diaz after a scoring moment in Game Five of the American League Championship Series against the Texas Rangers. The celebration took place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, with Carmen Mandato of Getty Images capturing the reaction as Diaz and Kessinger recognized the key run during the ninth inning.
Heading into the following Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates scheduled the second game of their series with the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. The Pirates were riding high after a 12-4 victory in the previous night’s action, fueling expectations for their matchup against Atlanta.
News of Kessinger’s surprising team change emerged midweek, as reports confirmed that the Pirates had signed the former Astros infielder. MLB.com reported that Pittsburgh signed free agent third baseman Grae Kessinger to a minor league contract, and that Kessinger had been assigned to the Indianapolis Indians, the Pirates’ affiliate. This development followed Kessinger’s recent release from the New York Mets. Although he never appeared in an MLB game for New York, he had been part of their organization at the Triple-A level.
Kessinger’s MLB journey began when he was selected in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Since then, he has spent parts of two seasons in the majors (2023 and 2024) with the Houston Astros. In 48 career MLB games, he has posted a .131 batting average, collecting eight hits, one home run, one RBI, and seven runs scored. His minor league career includes time with organizations across multiple levels, and his status shifted notably as franchise rosters and affiliations evolved around that period.
This overview reflects a sequence of notable moments, transfers, and performances involving Grae Kessinger, from his pregame appearance in Oakland to his 2023 playoff involvement with the Astros, his subsequent signing by the Pirates, and the broader context of his professional trajectory through 2024. For ongoing coverage and updates about Kessinger and related MLB developments, guaranteed details and narrative context come from sources including Getty Images and MLB.com.