Four Binghamton Mets named Eastern League All-Stars

The Eastern League has announced the rosters for its 2015 All-Star Game. Four Binghamton Mets players made the roster: pitchers Luis Cessa and Paul Sewald, infielder Josh Rodriguez, and outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

Signed as a 16-year-old shortstop in 2008, Cessa made his stateside debut in 2011 with the GCL Mets as a pitcher. While he was solid there, posting a 3.66 ERA in 32 innings, mostly in relief, it wouldn't be until 2012 that Cessa really became a name in the Mets' farm system. In 2012, Cessa was part of a Brooklyn Cyclones pitching rotation that absolutely dominated the NY-Penn League. That year, he posted a 2.49 ERA in 72.1 innings. Promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2013, the Mexican right-hander had perhaps his best season, posting a 3.12 ERA in 130 innings with almost a six-and-a-half strikeout to walk ratio. His performance took a step back in 2014 when he was promoted to the St. Lucie Mets, as he posted a 4.00 ERA in 114.2 innings. The 23-year-old has been having a solid year in AA-Binghamton this season, posting a 2.56 ERA in 77.1 innings. Cessa has a fastball that sits in the low ‘90s, and complements it with a solid change-up and developing curveball. His calling card has always been his control- for his career, the right-hander has a 1.8 BB/9 rate in 451.2 minor league innings.

Sewald, 25, was drafted in the 10^th round of the 2012 MLB draft from the University of San Diego. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones that year, and posted a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings out of the bullpen. Promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2013, Sewald posted a 1.77 ERA in 56 innings. He pitched the 2014 season with the St. Lucie Mets and found success there, posting a 1.73 ERA in 52 innings. The 25-year-old began the 2015 season with the Binghamton Mets and has so far posted a 1.67 ERA in 32.1 innings, taking over as team closer when Jon Velazquez was promoted to the Las Vegas 51s. While his stuff is fringy- his fastball tops out in the low ‘90s, and he complements it with a tight slider and a fringy change-up- the right-hander has relied on finesse to get by.

Rodriguez was drafted by the Cleveland Indians with their second round pick, the 57^th overall selection in the 2006 MLB Draft overall. A standout at Rice University, Rodriguez slowly climbed through the Indians' system, finally getting a MLB call-up in 2011 after he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old appeared in seven games for the Bucs and hit .083/.214/.083 in the fourteen plate appearances he was afforded. He was released from the organization in and signed with the Mets shortly thereafter. He was assigned to the Binghamton Mets in 2012, his first year with the organization, and hit .290/.373/.453 in 57 games with them. He was promoted to the Buffalo Bison later that year and hit .265/.327.420 with the Herd. Rodriguez was sent back down to Binghamton for the 2013 season, and hit .272/.371/.390 with them in 127 games. He opted to leave the organization as a free agent and signed with the Miami Marlins for the 2014 season. He was assigned to the New Orleans Zephyrs, their AAA affiliate, and hit .259/.337/.396. Returning to the Mets for the 2015, the veteran infielder is currently enjoying his best season at the plate, hitting .275/.365/.504 for Binghamton.

Nimmo was drafted by the New York Mets with their first round pick, the 13^th overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft overall. After playing in a handful of games that year with the GCL Mets and the Kingsport Mets, the Wyoming native made his 2012 debut with the Brooklyn Cyclones, and hit .248/.372/.406 in 69 games. He was promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2013 and hit .273/.397/.359 with them in 110 games. The outfielder got off to a hot start in 2014, hitting .322/.448/.458 for the St. Lucie Mets in 62 games and earned a mid-season promotion to the Binghamton Mets. He cooled off a bit, hitting .238/.339/.396 in 65 games, prompting the organization to play it conservative and reassign him to AA-Binghamton for the 2015 season. After retooling his swing during the off-season, Nimmo has hit .292/.359/.400 in 46 games, having missed some time with an injury.

The Eastern League All-Star Game is scheduled to be played July 15 at Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs.