Gavin Cecchini and Josh Rodriguez selected to Eastern League All-Star Team

Two Binghamton Mets, Gavin Cecchini and Josh Rodriguez, have been selected for the Eastern League All-Star Team. The ceremonial team, composed of one player for each position, is voted on by Eastern League managers, coaches, and media personnel.

Cecchini was drafted by the New York Mets with their first round pick, the 12th overall selection in the 2012 MLB draft. Attending Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Cecchini was considered a good athlete with solid hitting and fielding skills. Appearing in 53 games for the Kingsport Mets that season, the shortstop hit .246/.311/.330. He got a handful of at-bats at the end of the 2012 season with the Cyclones, and began the 2013 season assigned to Brooklyn. There, he hit .273/.319/.314. He was promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats for the 2014 season and batted .259/.333/.408 in 57 games. Midseason, he was promoted to the St. Lucie Mets, and batted .236/.325/.352.

After appearing in a handful game with the Binghamton Mets at the end of the 2014 season, Cecchini was assigned to the team to begin 2015. Through 109 games, the shortstop is enjoying his best season at the plate, batting .317/.377/.442. He is ranked among league leaders in numerous categories, including batting average (.317), hits (139), doubles (26), OPS (.819), total bases (194), OBP (.377), runs scored (64), slugging percentage (.442), and extra-base hits (37).

Cecchini was named Eastern League Player of the Month after hitting .387 with 21 runs scored and 18 RBIs in 29 games in July, and was selected earlier this year to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game, representing the Eastern Division, and went 0-1 with a walk in the game.

Rodriguez was voted to the "Utility" spot, having appeared in games playing first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and center field this season for Binghamton. Initially drafted by the Cleveland Indians with their second-round pick, the 57th overall selection in the 2006 MLB Draft slowly climbed through the Indians' system before finally getting an MLB call-up in 2011 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was released from the Bucs and signed with the Mets shortly thereafter.

The infielder split time between the Binghamton Mets and the Buffalo Bisons, batting .290/.373/.453 in 57 games for the former and .265/.327.420 with the latter. He was sent back down to Binghamton for the 2013 season and batted .272/.371/.390 with them in 127 games, opting to leave the organization as a free agent at the end of the year. After spending the 2014 with the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Miami Marlins' Triple-A affiliate, Rodriguez returned to the Mets for the 2015 season. Rodriguez is currently enjoying his best season at the plate, hitting .277/.363/.496 with 19 home runs and 11 stolen bases. He is ranked among the league leaders in numerous categories, including home runs (19), extra-base hits (45), OPS (.859), total bases (195), walks (50), OBP (.363), and runs scored (64).

He was selected earlier this year to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game, representing the Eastern Division, and went 1-3 in the game.