Slade Cecconi Joins Guardians’ Rotation Amid Injury

An injury to a player on a 26-man Major League Baseball roster can offer opportunity.

Such is the case with Cleveland Guardians right-handed starter, Slade Cecconi.

Cecconi, 25, will assume the rotation spot of starter Ben Lively, who is on the MLB Injured List with a strained forearm flexor.

The Guardians obtained Cecconi in an offseason trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The trade was costly for Cleveland, as they gave up slugger Josh Naylor to get Cecconi.

The 6-4, 219 pound Cecconi had been highly regarded in the Diamondbacks organization, due to his outstanding repertoire and measured pitching mechanics.

About Slade Cecconi:

As a high school player at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida, Cecconi was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2018. He was chosen in the 38th round by Baltimore, but he chose to attend the University of Miami

Cecconi was a Supplemental 1st round draft pick of the Diamondbacks out of Miami in the 2020 MLB draft.

As the 33rd player taken in the draft, Cecconi received a $2,384,000 signing bonus from Arizona.

The Diamondbacks always felt Cecconi had an excellent arm, with a promising career as a starting pitcher.

Cecconi was making progress with the Diamondbacks, but command and control problems were a bit of an issue in his first venture at the major league level.

The Diamondbacks promoted Cecconi in August 2023, when he made his major league debut with Arizona against the San Francisco Giants. He started that game, and went 4.2 innings, yielding 4 hits, and 2 earned runs. He struck out 2, and walked 1. He did not receive a decision in that eventual 4-2 Diamondbacks loss.

Cecconi made 20 pitching appearances with the Diamondbacks in 2024, including 13 starts. He threw to a 2-7 record, with a 6.66 ERA, and 1.41 WHIP in 77 innings pitched.

Needing help at first base after slugger, and Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent, the Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor.

The left-handed hitting Naylor, 27, can become a free agent at the end of this coming World Series.

There is no question the Guardians miss Naylor’s bat in the middle of their lineup. However, they are hoping Cecconi can add depth and breath to their starting rotation.

Scouting Slade Cecconi:

As recently as 2021, Baseball America ranked Cecconi as the best pitcher in the Diamondbacks development program. He was rated as the team’s No. 6 overall prospect.

Among other accolades, Baseball America stated, “Cecconi has a methodical, under-control delivery from which he unleashes monster stuff.” He was given a grade of 55, which translates to an above average pitcher.

When this old scout first observed Cecconi on the mound at Chase Field in Phoenix last season, it appeared he had little to no idea where the ball was headed after it left his hand. He appeared to this writer to be more of a “thrower” than a pitcher.

Known for their work with pitchers, the Cleveland pitching coaches have had limited chances to work with Cecconi since spring training.

Cecconi suffered a left oblique strain during spring training, so he and the pitching coaches had to deal with a setback in their work to help Cecconi with his pitching mechanics.

In his first start with Cleveland against the Cincinnati Reds May 17, 2025, Cecconi pitched well. He threw 5 innings, yielding 5 hits, and 3 earned runs. He struck out 8, but didn’t walk anyone. He threw 77 pitches, 52 for strikes.

In that first start this season for the Guardians, Cecconi flashed the deep and very complete repertoire he was noted for when he was drafted by the Diamondbacks.

brooksbaseball.net lists Cecconi’s repertoire in that game to be a four-seam fastball at 95 miles per hour, a sinking fastball at 94 miles per hour, a changeup at 86 miles per hour, a slider at 86 miles per hour, a curve at 76 miles per hour, and a cutter at 90 miles per hour. (velocities are rounded.)

Slade Cecconi will turn 26 June 24.

The Guardians are hoping Cecconi will continue to make progress and claim a permanent role in the team’s starting rotation.