Diamondbacks sign Competitive Balance A pick Slade Cecconi for $2.384M

The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with Competitive Balance A pick Slade Cecconi. Cecconi was selected by Arizona with the 33rd overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami and will receive a $2.384M signing bonus, which was the remainder of the team’s signing bonus pool. Cecconi was Miami’s Saturday starter and had some leverage as a draft-eligible sophomore, but will start his pro career with Arizona instead.

With Cecconi signed, the team has agreed to terms with all five players from their 2020 draft class and used every cent of their allotted bonus pool to make it happen. Cecconi profiles as a potential #3/4 starter with an ideal frame and a full repertoire of pitches anchored by a plus fastball/slider combination. He has some work to do in order to become a starter at the MLB level, as he’ll need to improve his conditioning and his change-up before seeing MLB action. Unlike 1st rounder Bryce Jarvis, who is one of the most MLB-ready arms in the draft, Cecconi will need a couple years in the minors to make those necessary adjustments before seeing action with the D-backs.

The next step for Cecconi will be determining if he will be participating in summer camps with the Diamondbacks. Since Jarvis was added to the pool, it’s not inconceivable to think the same will happen for Cecconi. The team has a full 60-player pool, so they would have to risk losing a player to waivers to add Cecconi to the group.

Here is the final breakdown of how the team utilized their signing bonus pool for their five players.