RONNY CEDENO

2/2/83; NDFA '99 (Chicago Cubs); Venezuela
R/R; 6-0, 170

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2001 A (ChiC)
.196
.237
.357
56
4
1
1
2
18
0
2
2001 R (ChiC)
.350
.398
.466
206
13
4
1
13
32
17
10
2002 A (ChiC)
.213
.269
.295
376
17
4
2
22
74
14
10
2002 A- (ChiC)
.218
.275
.300
110
5
2
0
9
25
8
2
2003 A+ (ChiC)
.211
.257
.295
380
18
1
4
21
82
19
6
2004 AA (ChiC)
.279
.328
.401
384
19
5
6
24
74
10
10
2005 NL (ChiC)
.300
.356
.375
80
3
0
1
5
11
1
0
2005 AAA (ChiC)
.355
.403
.518
245
14
1
8
20
31
11
3
2006 NL (ChiC)
.245
.271
.339
534
18
7
6
17
109
8
8
2007 NL (ChiC)
.203
.231
.392
74
2
0
4
3
18
2
1
2007 AAA (ChiC)
.359
.422
.537
287
15
3
10
30
46
6
4
2008 NL (ChiC)
.269
.328
.352
216
12
0
2
18
41
4
1
2009 AL (Sea)
.167
.213
.290
186
4
2
5
10
50
3
2
2009 NL
.258
.307
.394
155
4
1
5
9
29
2
0

The Pirates acquired Cedeno from Seattle, along with C/1B Jeff Clement and RHPs Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock, in exchange for SS Jack Wilson and RHP Ian Snell.  The obvious purpose in getting Cedeno was to keep shortstop warm for the time being, until one of their middle infield prospects develops or they're able to trade for a SS prospect.

Cedeno's minor league track record is not one you see every day.  He was a terrible hitter in the low minors, but once he got to AA he hit respectably and he's destroyed AAA pitching.  The ballpark for the Cubs' AAA affiliate, Iowa, is a modest hitters' park, so that can't be the entire explanation.  Cedeno had a bad time in his one full season as a major league regular, but he bounced back somewhat in 2008, during which he was largely a utility player.  The Cubs, however, seemed to have little use for him and sent him to Seattle.  He obviously fell off a cliff with the Mariners.  Although his plate discipline is very poor, it's very unlikely he's really as bad as he looked with the Mariners before the trade.

Defensively, Cedeno is probably around average now.  Going by UZR, he's been a shade below average at short, but the sample sizes are spotty at this stage.  He showed good range and a strong arm with the Pirates, but was a little erratic.  There's no reason to think he can't be at least a little above average with regular playing time, something he's had during only one major league season.  Of course, nearly any shortstop in baseball would be a significant downgrade defensively from Wilson.  Due to the Pirates' low-strikeout, groundball staff, it's especially important that they have a good shortstop.  On offense, Cedeno rebounded somewhat from his Seattle problems and showed surprising power at times.  His HRs with the Pirates were far from cheap, as he seems to have genuine raw power.  The plate discipline problems obviously continued and probably always will, but Cedeno should be better at the plate than Wilson was in most years.  He appears to be entrenched for the short term as the Pirates' regular, which is good because there's no help coming for another year or two.

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