Pawtucket Red Sox Ides of July review: The bats
By Rick McNair
Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini (70) at bat against the Baltimore Orioles at a spring training baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
I thought Garin Cecchini would be the Boston version of Alex Gordon. Physically similar, potential positional change and a left-handed bat that had gap power. Cecchini was a doubles machine with back-to-back seasons of 38 and 33 doubles in the low minors.
Cecchini, never a blazer on the base paths, once stole 51 bases at Greenville, but something happened to this once up in lights prospect. Cecchini had adjustment problems at Pawtucket in 2014 with a slash line of .263/.341/.371. In a brief exposure in Boston, Cecchini hit .258 in 31 at bats and that showed a bit more seasoning was needed.
In 2015 Cecchini imploded at Pawtucket.
The stat line is not pleasant as Cecchini has slashed .213/.282/.310, but within that cumulative number is a sparkle of promise. The July slash is .325/.357/.400 and is that a trend or a hot streak?
Cecchini is only 24-years-old and that is a plus. If this is a development issue, then the Red Sox have a potential valuable chip for trading or for use on the parent club. As an occasional visitor to McCoy I love to watch Cecchini swing. He has a smooth swing that reminds me of Wade Boggs from his Pawtucket days, but, quite obviously, nowhere near the same level of production.