Cecchini was chosen by the Mets in the first round (#12 overall) of the 2012 MLB Draft. He doesn’t have any eye-popping tools or flashiness to his game, but he could have some value as a utility infielder, with a ceiling as a second division, everyday second baseman.

During my views of Cecchini during a recent series versus Tacoma, he displayed average bat speed and a level swing plane but he got long through the zone at times, leaving him vulnerable to plus velocity and good offspeed pitches. On occasion his hips open early and he gets out on his front foot, also leading to some struggles with offspeed. That being said, Cecchini has done a nice job of keeping his strikeout rate low (12.3% in 2017, 11% in 2016), while having a keen eye for the strike zone and a willingness to use the whole field.

Cecchini has soft hands and clean footwork defensively, but is stiff in his throwing motion at times, hindering the accuracy of his throws. He has the range and arm strength to handle spot duty at shortstop, but is better suited for second base when it comes to regular duty.

On the bases, Cecchini displays average raw speed with good instincts, and he’ll swipe the occasional base, but isn’t overly aggressive o the bases. His speed plays better once underway, allowing him to go from first-to-third base, and score from first on a double.

Cecchini’s ultimate role will hinge on how much he hits. If his bat plays, he’ll have the opportunity to be an average second division, everyday second baseman. However, with his struggles with good off-speed pitches and plus velocity, it’s much more likely that he’ll land as a Role 40 utility infielder who can handle occasional work at shortstop. One could expect Cecchini to get another taste of the big leagues this year when rosters expand in September. Without a long-term commitment by the Mets to a second baseman at present, Cecchini could have the opportunity to compete for the job going into spring training 2018.