Brett Cecil, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 7/2/1986
Birthplace: Dunkirk, Maryland
College: University of Maryland

Brett Cecil, relief pitcher, started playing baseball at the age of eight. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 and he played in their minor league system in 2007 and 2008.

Cecil joined the Blue Jays starting rotation in 2009. That season, he pitched 93.1 innings in 18 games and he had a 7-4 record and a 5.30 ERA. The following season, he pitched in 28 games and he had career highs in innings pitched (172.2), wins (15 to 7 losses), and strikeouts (117 to 54 walks). He finished the 2010 season with a 4.22 ERA.

In 2011, Cecil was again in the Blue Jays' starting rotation, pitching in 20 games. He finished the season with a 4.73 ERA and a 4-11 record. The highlight of his season came on July 24, 2011, when he pitched a complete game shutout against the Texas Rangers. The following season, he had a 5.72 ERA in 21 games as a starter.

Cecil became a relief pitcher for the Blue Jays in 2013. That season, he pitched 60.2 innings in 60 games and he finished with a 2.82 ERA. After signing a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Blue Jays in January, 2014, he continued to pitch from the bullpen, finishing the 2014 season with 53.1 innings and a 2.70 ERA in 66 games. In 2014, he also pitched in the minors.

On January 15, 2015, Cecil signed a one-year, $2.475 million contract with the Blue Jays. He finished the 2015 season with a 5-5 record, 5 saves, 70 strikeouts to 13 walks, and a 2.48 ERA in 54.1 innings in 63 games. He pitched 2.0 innings in 2 postseason games and he gave up 1 hit.

Cecil pitched out of the Blue Jays' bullpen in 54 games in 2016. He finished the season with a 3.93 ERA, 1 win to 7 losses, and 45 strikeouts to 8 walks in 36.2 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 4.0 innings in 6 games and he didn't give up any hits or runs. He struck out 4 batters and walked 3.

Cecil signed a four year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on November 21, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with a 3.88 ERA in 73 games. He had 2 wins and 4 losses, 1 save, and 66 strikeouts to 16 walks in 67.1 innings.

Cecil spent time on the DL in 2018. He pitched 32.2 innings in 40 games and he had 1 win and 1 loss, 19 strikeouts to 25 walks, and a 6.89 ERA.

Cecil was on the DL for the entire 2019 season with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The Cardinals released Cecil on July 22, 2020. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2018.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Brett Cecil
ESPN - Brett Cecil