Gavin

Cecchini

Cecchini cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and will remain in the organization. The former first-round pick as been a disappointment, but the Mets will surely be happy to keep him around as depth.

The move clears a spot for the newly-signed Justin Wilson on the 40-man roster. Cecchini, a first-round pick from 2012, missed most of late season due to injury. The 25-year-old appeared in 36 games with the Mets from 2016-2017 and could draw some interest on waivers.

Cecchini was selected 12th overall in Monday’s First-Year Player Draft. He’ll get $2.3 million, which is a little below the slot value of $2.55 million. The 18-year-old confirmed on his Twitter account Thursday that he is headed to New York, presumably to undergo a physical.

The minor league season ends soon, so the Mets figure to shut him down as a precautionary measure. “I’m not one to estimate recovery time. Fortunately, he’s already had a pretty full year,” VP of scouting Paul DePodesta said. Cecchini, the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, was hitting .250 with one home run, 13 RBI and two steals in 132 plate appearances with the Mets’ rookie league affiliate prior to the injury.

Cecchini’s brother, Garin, was picked in the 2010 draft and is in the Red Sox organization. Gavin is a heady player whose instincts have made him a solid fielder. Scouts, however, believe his long-term position may be second base. The younger Cecchini has a smooth, quick stroke. As long as he sticks in the middle of the infield, his bat will prove to be an asset. Described as “scrappy,” a “hard-worker,” and a “smart player,” the thinking is that Gavin, who has been speaking to his brother about pro baseball for two years, is about as low risk a high-school pick as you can make at No. 12.

At the time of the injury, the 19-year-old was batting .259/.305/.315 with three doubles, two stolen bases and nine strikeouts through 15 games for Short-Season Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York-Penn League. Selected No. 12 overall in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Cecchini batted .246/.311/.330 with 12 extra-base hits last summer in the rookie-level Appalachian League.

He’s gone 11 for his last 14 at the plate with a homer and five RBI over his last three contests. The 2012 first-round pick seems to have outgrown Triple-A. His .329 average ranks third in the Pacific Coast League this season. He also ranks fifth in hits (137) and sixth in on base percentage (.391). The 22-year-old could see time with the big club once the Triple-A season ends.

He singled three times, doubled and scored twice as the 51s held on for a 10-8 win over visiting Fresno. Saturday was Cecchini’s fourth straight multi-hit game and his second four-hit contest of the year. He’s hit .500 during his six-game hitting streak while boosting his average from .309 to .324. The 2012 first-round pick doesn’t have much left to prove in the minor leagues. It’s possible we could see him in the majors next month when rosters expand.

Cecchini, a first-round pick in 2012, earned the call-up after batting .325/.390/.448 with eight homers and 55 RBI over 117 games this season in Triple-A. The 22-year-old has primarily played shortstop in the minors, but he made three starts at second base this season. It’s unclear what role he’ll have down the stretch, but the Mets decided to add him to their 40-man roster and give him his first taste of the majors.

One of those hits was a double, and he scored a run for the 51s as well. All Cecchini has done is hit in the past few seasons, and while his defensive profile has taken a big hit, he keeps getting better with the bat. New York doesn’t have any room for him, but it’s hard to imagine he’s not a future starter at the keystone, even if it’s not for the Mets.