Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Not traditionally known as a particular hotbed for MLB Draft prospects, the Hurricanes boast a couple 1st-round-worthy hurlers. This profile will be on right-hander Slade Cecconi.
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Previous Entries
- RHP Bobby Miller, Louisville [May 15]
- OF Daniel Cabrera, LSU [May 18]
- RHP Jared Kelley, Refugio HS (Texas) [May 21]
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Vitals
6’4, 219 pounds
Position: Starting pitcher
Bats: Right
Throw: Right
DOB: June 24, 1999
Location
Coral Gables, Fla.
Year: Sophomore
Rankings
The Athletic: NR
Baseball America: 32
CBS MLB: 34
ESPN: 16
FanGraphs: 21
MLB Pipeline: 31
Perfect Game: 55
Slot recommended bonus (No. 29): $2,424,600
Note: All information of draft prospects compiled from Internet sources, scouting reports and videos.
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The University of Miami has a better track record at producing MLB-level bats rather than arms, but Cecconi (and his teammate Chris McMahon) might buck that trend. He probably would have been a 1st-rounder out of high school in 2018, but an injury and strong commitment to Miami ended those ideas. He was drafted in the 38th round by the Orioles and, obviously, didn’t sign.
Cecconi, a draft-eligible sophomore, has the look of a frontline starter. He has a fastball that is regularly in the mid-90s. The knock on it is he loses a little velocity deeper into his outings, but he works well with the pitch up in the strike zone, which the Dodgers covet. His best offspeed pitch is a mid-to-high-80s slider that looks a lot like a cutter. There’s a chance he can parse out the slider and cutter and make them two separate pitches (think Walker Buehler). It has shown characteristics of both offerings. He also has a changeup and curveball that are definitively behind his other two pitches, but he has at least shown a little feel for both of them.
His delivery is compact yet deliberate, and he displays a very quick arm. That helps him generate good velocity. There’s some concern about the inconsistency of it, but leads to present fringe-average command and potential injury concern. But the Dodgers have never met a potential elbow injury they didn’t like. He has the frame to be an innings-eater, but also has a chance to be more than that.
Video
Videos courtesy of Perfect Game and James Weisse.
Even before the pandemic, Cecconi was in an interesting position. As a sophomore, he has a bit more leverage than most college pitchers with his eyes on a 1st-round payday. The rankings vary (as you can see up top), so it isn’t clear exactly where he might land in next month’s draft. If he falls to No. 29, he might be able to be had for around slot, but I wouldn’t expect him to sign for much less than that. He has No. 2 upside, but he’s more likely a mid-rotation guy when all’s said and done.
