Gavin Cecchini

{{Infobox baseball player

|name = Gavin Cecchini

|image = Gavin Cecchini (32259680487) (cropped).jpg

|width =

|caption = Cecchini with the New York Mets in 2019

|position = Second Baseman

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_name = Gavin Glenn Christopher Joseph Cecchini

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|12|22}}

|birth_place = Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 11

|debutyear = 2016

|debutteam = New York Mets

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = October 1

|finalyear = 2017

|finalteam = New York Mets

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .217

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 1

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 9

|teams =

New York Mets ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})

}}

Gavin Glenn Christopher Joseph Cecchini{{cite web

|url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cecchi001gav

|title = Gavin Cecchini

|website = Baseball-Reference.com

|access-date = August 28, 2013

}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ|v|ɪ|n|_|tʃ|ᵻ|ˈ|k|iː|n|i}} {{respell|GAY|vin|_|chih|KEE|nee}}; born December 22, 1993) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets.

Early life

Cecchini was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and attended Alfred M. Barbe High School. Prior to the 2012 MLB draft, Cecchini was regarded by Perfect Game as "good athlete, highest level hitter and outstanding middle infield tools."{{cite web|url=http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=191458|title=Gavin Cecchini Baseball Profile - Perfect Game USA|access-date=October 19, 2014}}

Cecchini was a member of the South Lake Charles Little League team that represented Lake Charles, Louisiana and the Southwest region at the 2006 Little League World Series.{{Cite web |last=League |first=Little |title=Major Leaguers Played in LLBWS |url=https://www.littleleague.org/who-we-are/alumni/major-leaguers-played-llbws/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Little League |language=en-US}}

Cecchini initially committed to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers, before switching his commitment to Ole Miss.{{cite news|last1=Parham|first1=Chase|title=Ole Miss lands elite shortstop|url=https://olemiss.rivals.com/news/ole-miss-lands-elite-shortstop|access-date=15 September 2016|publisher=Rivals.com|date=April 11, 2011}} He was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft with the 12th overall pick.

Professional career

=New York Mets=

File:Gavin Cecchini on September 25, 2016.jpg

Cecchini began his professional career in 2012 with the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League, batting .246/.311/.330, and then was promoted to Brooklyn Cyclones for five games in which he was hitless to end the season.[http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Gavin-Cecchini Gavin Cecchini Baseball Statistics [2012-2017]] Baseball America ranked him as the #2 prospect in the Mets system and the Appalachian League's #12 prospect following the 2012 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/1946/log|title=BaseballAmerica.com: Stats: Gavin Cecchini|access-date=October 19, 2014}} He began the 2014 baseball season as a member of the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Single–A South Atlantic League, and for three teams in aggregate he batted .247/.328/.378.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cecchi001gav Gavin Cecchini Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com]

He was promoted to the Major Leagues on September 6, 2016.[https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/123969/forget-arizona-fall-league-gavin-cecchini-headed-to-majors Forget Arizona Fall League, Mets' Gavin Cecchini headed to majors - Mets Blog- ESPN] He made his Major League debut on September 11, striking out in a pinch hit appearance at Turner Field. On September 24, he hit his first career hit, an RBI double.{{cite news|title=New York Mets at Atlanta Braves|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/event/2016/398340/recap/|access-date=15 September 2016|work=USA Today|date=September 11, 2016}} For the season, he batted .208/.253/.273.

Cecchini was designated for assignment on January 28, 2019 following the signing of Justin Wilson. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets on February 1, and received an invitation to spring training.{{cite web |last1=Todd |first1=Jeff |title=Mets Designate Gavin Cecchini, Announce Justin Wilson Signing |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/mets-designate-gavin-cecchini-announce-justin-wilson-signing.html |website=MLBTradeRumors |date=January 28, 2019 |access-date=29 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2019/02/mets-infielder-clears-waivers-will-be-assigned-to-syracuse.html|title=Mets infielder clears waivers, will be assigned to Syracuse|publisher=syracuse.com|author=Kramer, Lindsay|access-date=2019-02-01|date=February 2, 2019}} After recovering from injury, he was assigned to the Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. In 43 games for Binghamton, Cecchini hit .245/.295/.331 with three home runs, 21 RBI, and three stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}

=Canberra Cavalry=

On November 8, 2019, Cecchini signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.{{cite web|title=Canberra Cavalry draft Italian stallion Gavin Cecchini to ABL charge|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6481960/cavalry-draft-italian-stallion-to-charge/|publisher=Canberra Times|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=2019-12-01|author=Polkinghorne, David}} He abruptly quit his contract with the Canberra Cavalry due to concerns about air pollution caused by bushfires.{{cite news|title=US baseball star Gavin Cecchini quits Canberra Cavalry as bushfire smoke wreaks havoc on sporting events|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/bushfire-smoke-forces-us-baseball-star-to-quit-canberra-team/11822936}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On January 29, 2020, Cecchini signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-gavin-cecchini-reaches-milb-deal-with-arizona/|title=Diamondbacks' Gavin Cecchini: Reaches MiLB deal with Arizona |date=January 29, 2020 |website=CBS Sports |others=RotoWire Staff |access-date=February 2, 2020}} He was released on May 22, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Gavin Cecchini Stats, Highlights, Bio {{!}} MiLB.com Stats {{!}} The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=608325|website=MiLB.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}

=Sugar Land Skeeters=

In July 2020, Cecchini signed on to play for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season. In 23 games he struggled hitting .213/.289/.307 with 1 home run and 10 RBIs.

=Los Angeles Angels=

On May 12, 2021, Cecchini signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=5&year=2021|title=Major League Baseball Transactions}} He split the season between the Double–A Rocket City Trash Pandas and Triple–A Salt Lake Bees. In 91 games between the two affiliates, Cecchini batted .259/.290/.358 with 5 home runs, 36 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 9, 2021 |language=en}}