The Cleveland Guardians needed starting pitching, and starting pitching they got this offseason.
They have added, so far, Shane Bieber, Luis L. Ortiz and Slade Cecconi in different transactions, plus multiple pitching prospects.
Cecconi is their most recent acquisition for mound work.
He is a talented 25-year-old starter with top prospect pedigree.
That alone makes him an exciting add to the staff.
Yes, he posted a ghastly 6.66 ERA this past season in a significant sample (77 innings), but his Triple-A ERA was a much better 3.06 in 47 frames.
He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft for a reason: there is a lot of talent in that arm.
He is already working out as a Guardians pitcher, showcasing his entire repertoire in an intense session at the Cressey Sports Performance facility in Florida.
“Cleveland #Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi putting in off-season work at @CresseySP down in Florida,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi putting in off-season work at @CresseySP down in Florida.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/EzAkHoceRv
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) December 27, 2024
You can see fastballs, sliders, curveballs and changeups, meaning he threw his entire repertoire.
The Guardians love his 64th percentile extension (6.6 ft) and his good fastball-slider combo.
He didn’t actually get many strikeouts in the bigs, with a meager 18.9 percent strikeout rate (19th percentile), but that ratio was 29.5 percent in Triple-A: he has it in him, and it could be a matter of making the right adjustment.
If the Guardians have shown something over the years it’s their ability to work with young pitchers and unlocking the necessary things to help them succeed, so they definitely have a chance with Cecconi.
Even if he isn’t a starter but a solid multi-inning reliever, he should eventually contribute.
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