Cleve's New Pitcher Steals the Spotlight
Guardian vacancy: Cecconi argues his qualifications for the position in the wake of Lively's absence
In the heart of Cincinnati, the Guardians are pondering who'll take Ben Lively's place in their rotation. On a Saturday night, fresh blood, Slade Cecconi, gave an impressive debut that hinted he could be the one.
Pitching against the Reds, Cecconi showed his might, conceding three runs on five hits over five innings. The highlight of the night being Will Benson's solo homer, dampening the win for the Guardians in a 4-1 loss.
Cecconi's stellar performance didn't stop there. He aced his outing with eight strikeouts against no walks, tying his career-high. The 27-year-old joined an exclusive club of Guardians pitchers, becoming the third to record eight or more strikeouts and walk none in their team debut, following Tanner Bibee in 2023 and Floyd Weaver in 1962.
"It's hard to ask for more from Slade," said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, praising his new find. "He gave us a chance to win. He used his mix really well tonight."
Cecconi battled a troubling left oblique strain during spring training. He honed his skills in three minor league rehabilitation starts, gathering a record of 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA, with two walks and ten strikeouts across 13 innings.
"Honestly, I've not watched him much before," Vogt admitted. "But the glimpses we caught in spring training revealed promising signs and positive vibes."
The Guardians brought Cecconi into their family in a swap with Arizona, parting ways with first baseman Josh Naylor in December. Despite the long gap since his last big-league start on Sept 11, 2024, Cecconi displayed no sign of rust, conceding only two hits with six strikeouts before Benson's homer.
"There were undeniable jitters," Cecconi admitted, acknowledging his anxiousness. "It's been a while since my oblique issue happened way back in March. It was a great feeling to be back on the mound."
Lively, unfortunately, found his spot on the 15-day IL on May 13, and is set to consult with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday. The surgeon's table isn't out of the question, according to Vogt.
"His issue is the same that we knew a couple days ago," Vogt clarified before the game, "He has the flexor strain. We want to be absolutely sure and get yet another professional opinion before making any decisions."
Though Vogt refused to confirm Cecconi as Lively's replacement, he did acknowledge that the newcomer's performance was moving in the right direction.
"Obviously, we need to fill that position," Vogt said, "Slade delivered big time tonight. We're always open to options. When you lose someone like Ben Lively, it's about the next man stepping up, and tonight, Slade did exactly that."
- Toronto's sports section might feature an article on Slade Cecconi's impressive debut with the Cincinnati Guardians, who pitched against the Reds on a Saturday night.
- In the arts and opinion column, critics could discuss the symbolism of Will Benson's homer in the context of Slade Cecconi's performance, dampening the Guardians' win despite a 4-1 loss.
- MLB news could report on the potential replacement for Ben Lively in the Guardians' rotation, with Slade Cecconi's stunning debut hinting at a possible transition, especially considering Lively's current presence on the 15-day IL.
