D-backs pick Miami pitcher Cecconi at 33
Trinity Prep grad was 1 of 3 ’Canes to go in 1st 2 rounds
Slade Cecconi’s head fell into his lap and his face lit up with joy upon hearing his name called Wednesday night during Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.
The Trinity Prep graduate and University of Miami pitcher was seated on a sofa flanked by family when he was selected No. 33 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the competitive balance portion of the first round.
“This is a flamethrower,” MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger said during the broadcast. “Scouts love his big, durable frame [and] power arm that hits 96 [mph] all the time.”
Said ESPN’s Kyle Peterson: “I’ve had scouts tell me Cecconi’s a guy they think can make huge jumps when he gets into pro ball because he hasn’t grown into all the potential of his body.”
Cecconi was one of three Miami players selected in the first two rounds of the draft, which was trimmed from 40 rounds to five rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Miami pitcher Chris McMahon went No. 46 to the Colorado Rockies and shortstop Freddy Zamora was selected No. 53 by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Florida State pitcher CJ Van Eyk was
chosen with the fifth pick in the second round (No. 42) by the Toronto Blue Jays. Windermere High pitcher and FSU signee Carson Montgomery went undrafted through the first three rounds. Montgomery was ranked No. 40 in the Baseball America draft rankings entering the week.
Florida International left-handed pitcher Logan Allen, a 2017 Orange City University graduate, went to the Cleveland Indians in the second round with pick No. 56.
“This is a kid that has loved playing the game his entire life,” said ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza of Allen. “I was talking to him on the phone the other day and he said ‘I knew I loved the game [at six years old] when I got hit in the head with a ball and was walking around with a black eye, and I was like, ‘Mom, can I go back and play baseball.’”
Port Orange Spruce
Creek outfielder Zac Veen, a University of Florida signee, went No. 9 to the Rockies as the second high school player selected Wednesday.
College players made up the first seven picks in the first round before outfielder Robert Hassell III was chosen by the San Diego Padres at No. 8 out of Independence, Tenn.
The Miami Marlins drafted University of Minnesota pitcher Max Myers with the third pick.
Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson went No. 1 to the Detroit Tigers followed by Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad at No. 2 to the Baltimore Orioles.
The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Pennsylvania prep pitcher Nick Bitsko at No. 24 overall and Arizona State shortstop Alika Williams at No. 37 to close out Wednesday’s opening round.