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Friday, May 6, 2022

Dan Kite used his multiple pitches to turn pro; Saw four injury-slowed seasons, made high-A

Dan Kite impressed scouts with fastballs and breaking balls - he threw two of each, his college coach told his hometown Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in May 1988.

The only question was, would he go pro or stay in college one more year? The Post-Gazette wrote.

"It looks like I'm probably going to go," Kite told The Post-Gazette then. "I'm ready to go on to pro ball and give it a shot. I've been waiting for the chance and I'm going to jump into it."

Kite did go that year and he took his chance. His chance ultimately took him to four pro seasons. He made high-A.

Kite's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the draft out of Louisiana State University.

Kite started with the Red Sox at short-season Elmira. He went 3-3, with a 3.18 ERA over 12 outings, five starts.

He moved to single-A Winter Haven for 1989. He went 4-9 there, with a 4.11 ERA over 21 outings, 20 starts. He started that year with arm problems, but he worked his way back with some control issues, The North Hills News Record wrote

"Boston wants me to be a starter," Kite told The News Record. "It really doesn't matter to me. I just have to smooth myself out mechanically."

Kite returned to Winter Haven for most of 1990. He went 1-11 on the year, with a 7.88 ERA in 19 outings, 14 starts.

He spoke to The Post-Gazette the next March about his 1990 season and his prospects going forward. His arm problems had turned into shoulder surgery going into 1990.

"My arm never got strong enough," Kite told The Post-Gazette. "I had to learn to live with it, live with the bad stuff."

Kite then saw 29 mostly relief outings back at Winter Haven in 1991. He went 3-2, with a 4.74 ERA to end his career.

Kite has since returned to Pennsylvania and gone into Real Estate, continuing in 2022.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:3,907
Made the Majors:1,301-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,606-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:528
10+ Seasons in the Minors:326

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