Cecconi taken by Arizona

RHP becomes first ’Cane picked in opening round of MLB draft since 2016

Miami Hurricanes sophomore righthanded pitcher Slade Cecconi became the first Miami Hurricane picked in the MLB draft on Wednesday night when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Competitive Balance Round A with pick No. 33 at the end of the first round.

Cecconi became the first UM baseball player drafted in the first round since catcher Zack Collins went to the Chicago

White Sox as the 10th pick in 2016.

Cecconi, who was draft-eligible as a sophomore because he turns 21 within 48 days after the draft, will now decide whether to sign with his pro club or return to Miami. The signing bonus for the 33rd pick has an assigned slot value of $2.2 million. Last year, all first-rounders, including supplemental picks, were signed.

At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, Cecconi combines a fastball that is steadily around 96 mph and a hard slider in his arsenal of pitches

In a 2020 college baseball season cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cecconi went 2-1 with a 3.80 earned run average, striking out 30 batters in 21 1⁄3 innings over four starts. As a freshman last season, he was 5-4 with a 4.16 ERA and struck out 89 over 80 innings in 17 appearances, 13 starts.

A high school All-American, according

to Under Armour, Perfect Game and Rawlings, Cecconi was also selected in the 38th round of the 2018 draft out of Oviedo Trinity Prep before deciding to attend Miami.

The first competitive balance round, supplemental picks that went from picks 30-37, wrapped up the first night of baseball’s truncated five-round draft this year amid the pandemic.

Second-round pick

Miami Hurricanes junior right-handed pitcher Chris McMahon was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the MLB draft at pick No. 46 on Thursday evening.

McMahon will now decide whether to sign with his pro club or return to Miami. The signing bonus for the 46th pick carries a slot value of $1.62 million.

At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, McMahon combines a mid-90s fastball with a sharp breaking ball.

In the shortened 2020 college baseball season, McMahon went 3-0 with a 1.05 earned run average and 38 strikeouts over 25 2⁄3 innings pitched in four starts as the Hurricanes’ Saturday night hurler. McMahon went 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his 12 starts as a sophomore in 2019. He made six appearances and four starts as a freshman, posting a 4.44 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 26 1⁄3 innings.

McMahon, out of West Chester Rustin High in Pennsylvania, was also drafted in the 33rd round of the 2017 draft before opting to attend UM.

Miami shortstop Freddy Zamora was drafted at No. 53 by the Milwaukee Brewers later on Thursday.

TIM BROGDON/MIAMI ATHLETICS Slade Cecconi was selected with the 33rd pick overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, which was a compensatory first-round selection.