One fan feature you have when attending a Binghamton Met baseball game is picking the Offensive Player of the Game. Before the game, B-Met fans can visit a station on the left field side of NYSEG Stadium and vote for the B-Met player they think will have the best offensive chops in the soon to be played game.
The names of fans who make the correct pick are placed in a hat and the person whose name is chosen wins a gift basket filled with enticing refreshments. Charting the recent play of the B-Mets, it’s a safe bet many Binghamton fans place their votes each day for Gavin Cecchini.
Cecchini shined once again on Sunday, selected for offensive honors for the second day in a row, rapping out a 4-hit game including his 7th home run of the year to spearhead a 9-3 B-Met win over first place Trenton. The win was Binghamton’s third straight over the Thunder putting the B-Mets in a second place tie with Reading, both teams trailing Trenton by 1/2 game.
The four-hit production left the B-Met shortstop at 8-for-13 in Binghamton’s three weekend wins over Trenton. Cecchini totaled 9-for 16 at the plate over the 4 game series raising his average for the season to .305. Cecchini also knocked home four runs giving him 41 for the season, second highest on the club.
In fact, a glance at Binghamton’s offensive numbers finds Cecchini near the top of almost every category. Cecchini is second in games played trailing Josh Rodriguez by two. His 319 at-bats lead all B-Mets as does his 97 base hits and 50 runs scored. Cecchini shares the lead with Rodriguez in doubles, and is second in RBI’s, total bases and bases-on-balls.
The B-Met shortstop trails only one regular, Michael Conforto in on-base-percentage. New teammate Joe Benson leads the team in that category, but Benson has only played in 7 games. Cecchini trails only regulars Conforto and Rodriquez in OPS.
One has to be impressed watching Cecchini on a day-to-day basis. The 2012 first round pick has a disciplined approach in the batter’s box, brings an intense focus and intensity to the plate, and has a mechanically sound swing.
As impressive as his home run on a 91 mph fastball in Sunday’s game was, the youngster skidding a 1-2 curve in the hole between first and second base to drive home a run in his final at-bat was equally as good. He’s becoming a solid run producer.
Some will note that Cecchini leads the B-Mets defensively in errors at shortstop. There is no denying that fact. Even so, there is also no denying Cecchini has decent range and an average or better arm. Often it appears to me Cecchini tries to force the action defensively rather than allowing the play to come his way.
However, with time and experience and this kid’s incredible work ethic, it’s my belief Gavin Cecchini will smooth things out defensively to round out his baseball profile.
