2025: Kessel entered his junior season as an experienced left-handed presence in the Cougars' pitching staff. He made eight appearances, including one start, totaling 10.0 innings of work. Known for his ability to generate swings and misses, he struck out 10 batters—averaging one strikeout per inning—and continued to serve as a versatile arm capable of navigating both starting and relief roles.
2024: Appeared in 9 games as a sophomore, recording a 1-2 record with a 6.38 ERA over 24.0 innings. He made five starts, highlighted by a strong performance against Biola where he allowed just one run on four hits over 4.1 innings. He also provided 3.0 innings of scoreless relief to help secure a 7-6 win over Concordia and threw a career-high 82 pitches in a 5.2-inning start against Westmont.
2023: Made 8 appearances with 4 starts during his freshman campaign, earning two wins and 11 strikeouts in 20.0 innings. His most notable moment came when he started the PacWest Tournament championship game against Point Loma, throwing 4.0 innings and allowing just one earned run to help the Cougars clinch the conference title.
Prior to APU
During his high school career, Kessel was a dominant southpaw in one of the most competitive regions in California:
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League Honors: Helped lead Foothill High to a Century League championship in 2022 and was a key part of two CIF Southern Section playoff runs.
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Senior Dominance: Fashioned a microscopic 0.77 ERA as a senior in 2022, posting a 4-3 record with 21 strikeouts over 45.2 innings and holding opponents to a .193 batting average.
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Postseason Heroics: Pitched 3.0 innings of one-hit relief in the 2022 CIF-SS second round, enabling a 5-4 comeback victory over Santa Margarita.
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Scouting Profile: Rated as a top left-handed pitching prospect by Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game; showcased a deceptive delivery and a fastball/curveball mix that drew heavy interest from collegiate programs.
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Collegiate Pedigree: A second-generation Cougar, as his mother, Kimberly, attended Azusa Pacific.
Notable Performances As a high school senior, Kessel threw a 7.0-inning complete game shutout against San Dimas, allowing just three hits while striking out three in a 6-0 victory.
Personal Born on July 28, 2003, in San Dimas, Calif., Cameron is the son of Brad and Kimberly Kessel. He is majoring in Business Management and chose APU for its strong academic and athletic balance. Outside of baseball, he enjoys spending time with family and following the latest trends in the business world.
