Farmhand impresses, on field and on the farm

DU N EDIN, FLA. • Outfielder Darrell Ceciliani has been a big success down on the farm and down on the ranch.

As a 2009 New York Mets draft pick, Ceciliani has put together some excellent seasons in the Mets’ farm system, culminating with a call- up to the Major Leagues for 39 games last year before being traded to the Blue Jays on Feb. 2. His performance so far at spring training has been so impressive that Toronto manager John Gibbons says there’s a chance he’ l l be named the club’s fourth outfielder when the regular season starts on April 3.

“Love him,” said Gibbons. “I heard he’s hard- nosed, good baserunner, good outfielder, just a complete player. He’s just looking for his opportunity.”

Ceciliani, 25, may have found that with the Jays. Heading i nto Thursday’s spring training games, the outfielder leads all Toronto batters with a .444 average in 10 games. He has eight hits in 18 at-bats, including a grand slam against the Minnesota Twins last week.

Gibbons said Ceciliani was recommended to the Jays by the club’s former GM J. P. Ricciardi, now a special assistant to Mets GM Sandy Alderson.

“J. P. spoke very highly of him and that’s good enough for me,” said Gibbons.

There’s nothing particularly unique about a hardnosed, good- hitting outfielder. But what makes Ceciliani stand out is the fact he grew up on a 6,800- hectare ranch in the Oregon back country, operated by his dad Darrell Ceciliani II and his brother Derek, and still lives and works there in the off- season. The ranch, called Rocker Three Ranch, is located about 15 kilometres from the closest town, Madras, where Ceciliani excelled at baseball, basketball and football at Madras High School.

Ceciliani was certainly a long-shot to make it as a pro in baseball. While highly skilled, he wasn’t able to travel with the local rep team very much because of work commitments on the ranch. Despite t hat, he t urned enough heads to be drafted in the fourth round by the Mets. And when his baseball career ends, he said he’ll be back working the ranch.

“We run cattle out there, anywhere f rom 400- 600 head, and it’s a non-stop battle,” Ceciliani said. “We also have a little hunting/fishing business. It’s just awesome, a good place to get away to after the baseball season.”