- Full name Kyle Kessel
- Born
- Profile Throws: L
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Kessel was the lone minor leaguer in the trade that sent Mike Hampton and Derek Bell to the Mets last offseason. Kessel hadn't progressed past Class A in five years in the New York system. Shoulder surgery in 1998 was partly to blame, and spending two years playing point guard for Texas A&M's basketball team also retarded his development. He still owns Aggies records for assists by a freshman and sophomore. Kessel showed enough in his first season with the Astros to make the 40-man roster this winter. His best pitch may be a curveball he added in 2000, though he throws his slider more often. His fastball is more notable for its movement than its velocity, and he uses his changeup effectively. Kessel will have to be more precise with his command to succeed at higher levels. He tends to fade quickly, as his fastball dips from 89-91 mph to 84-85 mph after about 60 pitches. He projects as a middle reliever/spot starter, and he needs at least another year in the minors before he'll be ready for Houston.