Command and Consistency Keeps Cecconi Focused for 2024 Season

RENO, NV - Slade Cecconi stood stoically at his locker in Scottsdale, Arizona, after punching out four White Sox over two scoreless innings in his Spring Training debut.

The former first-round pick spoke of a memorable 2023 campaign, his gratitude for the Diamondbacks, and his focus on refining his secondary pitches as he transitions into a season with heightened expectations.

He made his MLB debut in San Francisco in early August, holding his own for nearly five innings of two-run ball. In his first 21 innings in the majors, the Floridian posted a 2.57 ERA with 14 strikeouts in five appearances. A shaky start against the upstart Orioles on September 2nd spurred an option back to Triple-A with refinements in mind.

"Command and consistency," he said, "that's always gonna be focus number one for me right now (and) moving forward."

His MLB debut was just the start of a mighty first act. Two scoreless innings and a strikeout in game two of the NLCS gave him a taste of the adrenaline and excitement of October baseball.

"I'm so thrilled to be part of this organization," he said. "We've got a lot of talent and a lot of guys that are pushing each other every day."

The 24-year-old led Reno's pitching staff with 118 strikeouts in 116 ⅓ innings, pointing to his upside with a hoppy fastball and developing breaking and offspeed stuff. At which level he begins the season remains to be seen, but the foundation is set for the right-hander to keep growing throughout 2024.

The Reno Aces will kick off the 2024 season with a three-game trip to Las Vegas beginning on Friday, March 29th. They will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 2nd, when the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, visit Greater Nevada Field at 2:05 p.m. PDT.