Minor League Teams
Prospect On The Move: Luis Cessa Is A Wanted Man
A new organization and new opportunity for 2016.
Photo Credit: Blade/Jeremy Wadsworth
Back in 2013, I interviewed Luis Cessa for MetsMinors.net and had an opportunity to meet a great young man, very humble, easy going and a love for the game with a unique talent, once an infielder who became a very good pitcher. With his talent, Cessa moved up through the Mets system each year and impressed along the way.
In 2013, he pitched for the Savannah Sand Gnats in Class A (Full) and was 8-4, with a 3.12 ERA, striking out 124 batters in 130 innings. He also helped the Gnats captured the South Atlantic League title as the team finished 77-61, winning their first league championship in 20 years.
In 2014, the Mexican native started for Class-A (Adv) St. Lucie Mets and finished 7-8, with a 4.00 ERA. This past season he was promoted to Double-A and in 13 starts, he was 7-4, with a 2.91 ERA, which earned him a spot on the Triple-A Las Vegas roster last July. He struggled in five starts, posting an 0-3 record and a 8.51 ERA.
At the trading deadline, the Mets sent Cessa and pitcher Michael Fulmer to the Detroit Tigers for Yoenis Cespedes. The trade would bring quick dividends to the Mets, as Detroit looked to build their future.
Cessa was placed with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and in seven starts he was 1-3 and a 5.97 ERA. In the off-season the Tigers added Cessa to their 40-man roster, but December 9th, they packaged him in a deal with Chad Green to the New York Yankees.
Cessa, ranked #18 on the Yankees Top 30 Prospect list, is reported to have a solid three-pitch mix, with his fastball sitting at 93 mph, occasionally touching 95 MPH on the gun. He also has been reported to have a “slurvy” breaking ball, which he has shown improvement with and has the makings of a Major League average change up.
The positive thing on Cessa’s pitches is that he throws strikes, as he proved in 2015 when he walked just 36 batters in 139.1 innings between Double-A and Triple A. He also has a career 1.9 walks-per-nine ratio.
The Yankees are looking to build up their arms in the minors so they can make an impact on the big club. Cessa, even though he has been shopped twice in less than a year, does have the make up of what the Yankees are looking for and with his history he can be a solid back of the rotation pitcher.
Look forward to watching Cessa strive with his new organization as he makes his way to the big leagues.
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
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