Canberra Cavalry director Donn McMichael rarely makes big statements, which makes them all the more noticeable when he does.
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Cavalry signing Gavin Cecchini is going to be a star.
He's also another Major League boost for the Cavalry on the eve of the ABL season after The Canberra Times revealed they'd signed starting pitcher JJ Hoover on Wednesday.
Like Hoover, Cecchini also has Major League experience, having played 36 MLB games for the New York Mets in 2016-17, but has been in their minor-league system since then.
Now he's joining the Cavalry's charge as they look to improve on last season's semi-final appearance where they were knocked out by the Brisbane Bandits.
Cecchini will be a major part of that, not only defensively, but offensively as well.
The Cavalry were one of several ABL clubs his manager reached out to for the USA winter.
It's believed Canberra beat out arch-rivals Sydney Blue Sox and the Melbourne Aces for his signature.
His MLB experience adds to the 290 games Hoover brings as well.
"Cecchini's a star. Cecchini will be an absolute star. He's a second-baseman and a shortstop, which is exactly what we need," McMichael said.
"He's with the Mets in the minors at the moment. He's played with the Italian national side.
"In Major League he's had 36 games, he's had an average in the bigs at .217.
"He was very sought after. His agent came to us just by pure chance.
"He heard that Canberra was OK and he was looking for a safe destination because the Dominican [league] had been shut down so he wanted a place for him for short-season winter ball.
"He came to us and he went to four other clubs - two others in Australia and two elsewhere.
"He's got all the talent, he's got the gear and he's only 25."
McMichael expected Cecchini to slot into one of the crucial fielding roles of shortstop or second base, while also forming part of the top of the hitting order.
Cecchini averaged .217 with the bat in the Majors, but hit .248 - mostly in AA, two levels lower - this year in the minors.
He bolsters the top of their order, where Zach Wilson returns for the second consecutive year.
Cecchini will be an absolute star.
- Cavalry boss Donn McMichael
Wilson averaged .331 in his maiden ABL campaign, with 11 home runs and 30 runs batted-in on top of that.
They also have 188-centimetre, 114-kilogram, man-mountain Jerrick Suiter and David Kandilas as well.
McMichael was confident Cecchini would form part of a good offensive line-up.
"He'll play shortstop and he hits well. He's got a lot of power in his bat so that's a really good thing," McMichael said.
"That's what we were looking for. We've got a reasonable line up with Suiter, Cecchini and Wilson.
"You're looking at two, three, four there. Then you add Kandilas to that.
"We're not saying we're going to be unbeatable, but we should hit reasonably well."
Meanwhile, Steve Kent has helped keep Australia's Premier12 hopes alive, starring on the pitching mound in their 3-1 win over Canada in Seoul on Friday.
He pitched 4.1 run-less innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
Australia needed Korea to beat Cuba late Friday night to progress to the final six teams and have a chance to automatically qualify for the Olympic Games.