By Amy RussellDeMatha graduate
Brett Cecil made his Major League appearance Tuesday at the Rogers Centre as his Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians, 10-6.
Cecil, the 38th overall selection in First Year Player Draft in June 2007, tossed six innings while allowing just two runs – one earned – and striking out six. He didn’t walk a batter and scattered six hits but received a no-decision.
Cecil worked his way rapidly through the Toronto farm system. The 6-foot-1 lefty pitcher started at Class A Dunedin then moved up to Double A New Hampshire, then to Triple A Syracuse. He attended spring training with Toronto in 2009 when he played in an exhibition game, but was put in Triple A Las Vegas to start the season.
Cecil, one of the Blue Jays top pitching prospects, was pulled up early as the result of an injury-plagued Toronto roster. He took the place of Brian Burres in rotation.
The 22-year-old from Dunkirk, Maryland played for DeMatha Catholic High School where in he led the Stags to conference championships in both his junior and senior year.
As a senior he racked up 134 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA in 89.1 innings and was named National High School Baseball Coaches Association, as well as Louisville Slugger, Player of the Year. He was also the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year among other honors and awards.
After graduating in 2004, the former Stag joined the Terps at the University of Maryland where his stats and performance continued to earn him a reputation as a top pitching prospect. In his first two years in College Park, Cecil put up a 4.35 ERA in 101.1 innings pitched. As a sophomore he recorded 13 saves, blowing through the schools previously held record of seven.
