A personal shortlist of Red Sox prospect failures
By Rick McNair
Alex Gordon redux - Garin Cecchini
In the 2010 draft, the Red Sox got an absolute steal in the fourth round with the drafting of lefty-hitting Garin Cecchini. As noted in the scouting reports, Cecchini tore through the system and had all the tools. Speed was there, bat control, gap power, good defense, work to be done, but when I saw him play, all I could see was our version of KC great Alex Gordon.
"Summation: Future regular, everyday, solid contributor. Left-handed hitter with an above-average hit tool and plate discipline to draw walks and generate high on-base totals. Still needs to prove he can handle advanced left-handed pitching. Positional flexibility to play third base and left field, but needs to improve footwork and defensive tools. Plus-plus instincts, make-up and eagerness to learn. High baseball IQ; knows exactly what he needs to do." Sox Prospects
Cecchini came up for a taste in 2014 and hit .258 in 11 games. In 2015, Cecchini had another brief roster recall hitting zip in two games. At Pawtucket in 2015, Cecchini looked lost hitting .213 and the Sox saw enough and Cecchini was gone.
That started the downward spiral that eventually led Cecchini to the Mexican League and then retirement at 26 years old. What happened is a mystery as the fast-track promise became stuck in a cycle of failure.
The mystery of the Cecchini clan did not end with Garin, as he had a younger brother, Gavin, drafted in the first round by the Mets. Gavin appeared in 36 MLB games, hitting .217 before retiring in 2017.