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Three Surprise Players Who've Dominated at Astros Spring Training
Grae Kessinger
Grae Kessinger was a 26th round draft pick back in 2016, but went to school at Ole Miss before entering the draft in 2019, when the Astros snatched him in the second round.
Kessinger had an .804 OPS in college, a little low for a second round pick, but the struggle really kicked in during his professional career. In three minor league seasons, Kessinger is hitting .215 with a .658 OPS.
He has 230 strikeouts to his game opposed to 125 walks. And in 269 games, Kessinger has committed 27 errors.
So of course Kessinger has had a fantastic Spring Training. Kessinger has 4 hits in 11 games, but three have gone for extra bases (two home runs and a double). Perhaps more impressively, he’s worked four walks to only three strikeouts.
That amounts to a slash line of .222/.364./.611. The .222 batting average admittedly isn’t high, but his hits have done damage and he’s getting on base at better than a 36% clip. The .975 OPS is impressive, and hopefully Kessinger’s great showing this Spring gives him confidence moving forward in his career to take the next step.
Rylan Bannon
Rylan Bannon made his big league debut last season, going 2-15 in only five games. He struck out five times and worked no walks and collected no extra-base hits.
The Astros claimed him off waivers this offseason from the Chicago Cubs. He had spent time with the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Orioles all in 2022, but as of yet hasn’t been able to stick with a club. Maybe the 2023 Spring Training will be what solidifies Bannon as an Astro for the future.
Bannon is 6-20 this spring for a clean .300 batting average. He’s got two doubles and one home run, and has also stolen two bases. His .941 OPS looks very nice.
Bannon was claimed by Houston as a utility infielder, and as Mauricio Dubon continues to struggle at the plate (.192 avg and .453 OPS this Spring), perhaps we see Bannon with the big league club at some point in 2023.
Bryan Garcia
Bryan Garcia was a sixth round pick by the Tigers back in 2016. He made his debut in 2019 and struggled in a small sample size, but was tremendous in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, carrying a 1.66 ERA in 26 appearances for Detroit.
2021 was a struggle for Garcia, who made only four appearances for the Tigers in 2022. Houston signed Garcia to a minor league deal in February, and Garcia has been great this Spring. Garcia has made four appearances and one start for the Astros, throwing 8.1 innings. He has allowed only three hits and walked one, good for a 0.72 WHIP.
His lone start came against the Atlanta Braves, and while all of their regulars weren’t in the lineup, he did successfully navigate a lineup that included Ozzie Albies, Matt Olsen, Austin Riley, Sean Murphy and Michael Harris III, allowing one hit, walking three and striking out three.
Garcia looks like a great depth option if injury were to unexpectedly strike the Astros this season, either in the pen or in the rotation.