The Cleveland Guardians have a very solid pitching staff.
They boast the best relief corps in baseball, and their rotation will be excellent when fully healthy.
When that happens, the unit will have Shane Bieber, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis L. Ortiz, Ben Lively, Triston McKenzie, and other talented hurlers.
Trade acquisition Slade Cecconi is a fascinating wild card in this equation.
He can be a starter or a long reliever, and despite his 6.66 ERA in 2024 (in 77 innings), there is a lot to like about him.
Cecconi has been training all winter at Eric Cressey’s complex in Florida, getting ready for the season.
Cressey has a very good reputation around the industry and is surely helping keep Cecconi’s arm and body in tip-top shape.
His talented arm, his top prospect pedigree, and the organization he is now part of make Cecconi one of the most promising pitchers on the staff.
Prospects analyst Chris Clegg tends to agree with that statement.
“I’m highly interested to see what Slade Cecconi looks like this spring after an offseason with Cressey and the Guardians. There was already some intrigue in the underlying pitch data and I believe he could take a step forward in 2025,” he posted on X.
Im highly interested to see what Slade Cecconi looks like this spring after an offseason with Cressey and the Guardians. There was already some intrigue in the underlying pitch data and I believe he could take a step forward in 2025. https://t.co/h7uhyqPAWi
— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) January 21, 2025
One of the things the Guardians like the most about Cecconi is the extension of his delivery.
This can make his pitches considerably more effective with the right coaching.
Let’s not forget that he was the 33rd overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft for a reason.
Despite the elevated 2024 MLB ERA, he had a 3.06 mark in 47 frames in Triple-A, with more than a strikeout per inning and very few walks.
If the Guardians can provide the right guidance and are patient with the 25-year-old, he could be the breakout performer of the year on this staff.
NEXT: Video Shows Promising Guardians Prospect Training During Offseason
