Cessa resides in Chandler, Ariz., with his wife, Nancy, and their son, Luis...Was a color analyst for FOX Latin America’s broadcast of the 2016 World Series...Pitched in one game for Team México in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
2023
Cessa made just seven appearances (six starts) for Cincinnati, going 1-4 with a 9.00 ERA (26 ER in 26.0 IP) before being released on May 14...Signed with Colorado on May 21 and pitched in Triple-A, but was released on July 3...signed with Washington on July 6, but was released on Aug. 30 after pitching for their Triple-A affiliate.
2022
Made his fourth career Opening Day roster (2016, 2019, 2021 for NYY)...In his second season with the Reds went 1-3, 4.30 in a career-high 10 starts and 3-1, 4.91 in 36 relief appearances...Joined and remained in the rotation in August after the Reds lost to trade or injury starting pitchers RHP Luis Castillo (to the Mariners), RHP Tyler Mahle (to the Twins), RHP Robert Dugger (right shoulder pain), RHP Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain), RHP Graham Ashcraft (right biceps soreness), RHP T.J. Zeuch (back soreness), RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder tightness) and LHP Mike Minor (left shoulder soreness)...Beginning 8/22 at Phi made his last nine appearances of the season as a starter (1-3, 3.77, .226baa)...were his first starts since 2018, when he made five starts and 11 relief appearances for the Yankees...After starting a 10-2 Yankees loss at Fenway Park on 9/30/18, in his final appearance of that season, he posted a 3.34 ERA in 114 consecutive relief apps until he made a spot start for the Reds on 4/14 at LAD...Between games of the day/night doubleheader vs Pit on 7/7 went on the 15-day injured list with a left intercostalis muscle strain...missed 20 games (13-7) until he was reinstated on 8/2, after RHP Tyler Mahle was traded to the Twins...Suffered the injury in the middle of his appearance on 7/7/g1 vs Pit...left with a 3-2 count on Bryan Reynolds and was charged with the walk issued by Ian Gibaut...After he came off the 15-day IL on 8/2, posted a 3.26 ERA (.211baa) in his last 15 appearances and nine starts of the season...In the 4-3 win on 9/18 at Cubs, didn’t allow a hit until Nico Hoerner led off the fifth inning with a triple...recorded the 300th strikeout of his career (Alfonso Rivas)...Retired the first batter in 19 of his 36 relief appearances...stranded 11 of 19 inherited runners...Pitched on consecutive days three times.
2021
His 2.51 ERA was the lowest of his career...established career highs in wins and apps...For the Reds posted a 2.05 ERA (.245baa) in 24 apps after he was acquired from the Yankees, along with LHP Justin Wilson, on 7/27 for a player to be named (RHP Jason Parker, 8/30)...In his last 32 apps of the season beginning 6/15 posted a 1.88 ERA (.232baa)...Over eight apps beginning 9/1 retired 27 consecutive batters (10k), including 24 straight batters over six apps from 9/5-9/20 (9k)...was the longest perfect streak by a Reds relief pitcher since at least 1957 (courtesy @EliasSports)...those streaks were snapped in the seventh inning of the 3-2 loss on 9/23 vs Wsh, when after retiring his first two batters he allowed Juan Soto's second homer of the game...Soto's homer also snapped his season-high 9-game scoreless streak (11.1ip, 3h, 0bb, 11k, .083baa)...Arrived in Chicago the afternoon of 7/28 and in that night's 8-2 win over the Cubs made his Reds debut by throwing a perfect seventh inning...17 times threw more than 1.0 inning, including six times for the Reds...10 times threw at least 2.0 innings, twice for the Reds (9/14 at Pit, 9/28 at WSox)...On 7/7 at Sea threw a season-high 3.1 innings, his longest appearance since 8/18/19 vs Cle (3.2ip) and his longest scoreless appearance since 7/18/19 at TB (also 3.1ip)..four times for the Reds pitched on two consecutive days (last, 9/23 & 9/24 vs Wsh)...For the Yankees, retired the first batter in 17 of his 29 apps...stranded six of eight inherited runners...for theReds, retired the first batter in 19 of his 24 apps...stranded 10 of 13 inherited runners, including the bases loaded twice (8/10 at Atl, 8/21 vs Mia).
2020
Posted a 3.32 ERA (21.2IP, 8ER) and 17K without recording a decision in 16 relief appearances with the Yankees… his 3.32 ERA was a career-best (previous: 4.11 ERA in 2019)...Began the season on the COVID-19 injured list (7/7-8/5)…missed the first two weeks of spring training at Yankee Stadium…began his rehab assignment and threw his first bullpen on 7/20, tossing 31 pitches…was returned from rehab and reinstated on 8/5, missing nine team games...Made his season debut in Game 1 of 8/5 doubleheader at Philadelphia, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings (1H, 1K)...Had a career-high 12.2-inning scoreless streak from Game 1 on 8/26 through the fifth inning on 9/23 (previous: 12.0IP from 6/27-7/25/18)…allowed 10H and 5BB with 8K during the stretch…was the longest scoreless streak by a Yankee in 2020…his nine-appearance stretch without allowing a run from 8/26-9/20 was a career best...Struck out his only batter faced and stranded the bases loaded to record his first save of the season and fourth of his career (first since 8/8/19 at Toronto) in Game 2 on 8/30 vs. the Mets (0.1IP, 1K)...Made his 100th career appearance on 9/18 at Boston, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 1K)...Had his career-best 12.2 scoreless inning streak snapped on 9/23 at Toronto, allowing a season-high 4R/3ER in 1.1IP (4H, 1BB, 1K)…tossed a scoreless fifth inning before allowing all four of his runs in the sixth...Made three postseason relief appearances, posting a 4.50 ERA (4.0IP, 2ER)...Agreed to terms on a one-year contract on 12/2, thus avoiding arbitration.
2019
Spent the entire season at the Major League level for the first time in his career, going 2-1 with one save, a 4.11 ERA (81.0IP, 37ER) and 75K in 43 relief appearances with the Yankees...Tossed at least 2.0 innings in 11 straight relief appearances from 4/17/18-4/7/19…had at least 3.0IP with 1ERor-fewer in four straight relief outings from 9/14/18-3/31/19...Made his season debut in 3/31 loss vs. Baltimore (3.1IP, 2H, 2R/1ER, 2BB, 5K)...Allowed 12ER in 11.1IP from 6/2-23...Tied his career high with 5ER allowed (fourth time) on 6/2 vs. Boston (1.0IP, 5H, 1BB)…his 3ER allowed in the seventh snapped a 24.1-inning scoreless streak by Yankees relievers...Had a 1.11 ERA (24.1IP, 4R/3ER) with 24K over 9G from 6/19-8/4, tossing at least 3.0 innings in five of those nine outings and at least 2.0 innings in five straight from 7/18-8/4...Matched his season high with 4.0IP on 6/30 at Boston in London (4H, 0R, 2K)…was his fourth career relief appearance of at least 4.0 innings (6/23/19 vs. Houston, 4.0IP, 1ER; 7/4/17 vs. Toronto, 4.2IP, 0R; 5/28/16 at Tampa Bay, 4.0IP, 1ER)...Set a relief appearance career high with 6K on 7/22 at Minnesota...Earned his first save of the season on 8/8 at Toronto (3.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K, 1HR)...Made a career-high four consecutive scoreless appearances from 8/22-9/4 (9.0IP, 7H, 0BB, 6K)…tossed multiple innings in each of those outings...Allowed a solo HR to García in the eighth inning on 9/25 at Tampa Bay, becoming the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1908 to allow a home run on his only pitch thrown (also Chasen Shreve in 2018, Boone Logan in 2012, Mike Stanton in 2005 and Graeme Lloyd in 1998)...Made two postseason relief appearances, combining to toss 4.0 scoreless innings…made his postseason debut in ALCS Game 3 vs. Houston (2.0IP, 1H, 3K, 1HP).
2018
Went 1-4 with two saves and a 5.24 ERA (44.2IP, 26ER) in 16 games (five starts) over eight stints with the Yankees (4/7-15, 4/17-6/27, 7/9, 7/25-26, 8/2-3, 8/15, 8/25 and 9/1-30)…was 1-4 with a 6.50 ERA (18.0IP, 13ER) in five starts and posted a 4.39 ERA (26.2IP, 13ER) with two saves in his 11 relief appearances…opponents hit .282 (51-for-181, 5HR); LH .266 (21-for-79, 2HR), RH .294 (30-for-102, 3HR)...Tossed at least 2.0IP in nine of his 11 relief appearances and 3.0IP in six of those 11 games...Started the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but did not make an appearance before being recalled on 4/7…made his season debut that day vs. Baltimore, closing out the game with a perfect ninth (1.0IP, 2K)...Was placed on the 10-day disabled list from 4/19 (retroactive to 4/18) - 6/21 with a left oblique strain, missing 55 team games…was removed from 4/17 loss vs. Miami in the eighth inning with the injury…in two rehab starts (1GS with Single-A Tampa, 1GS with Double-A Trenton), went 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA (5.2IP, 3R/2ER)...Earned the win in a spot start in Game 2 of a doubleheader on 7/9 at Baltimore (6.0IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 4K), his first win as a starter since 8/26/16 vs. Baltimore…snapped his 13-start winless streak, tied for the longest by a Yankees starter since 2002 (also Severino and Hughes)...Recorded a career-long 12.0 scoreless inning streak from 6/27-7/25...Started on 7/25 at Tampa Bay and took the loss (5.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, 1HR)…retired the leadoff batters over the first five innings…retired 11 straight batters faced from the second out in the second to the end of the fifth, then allowed a leadoff single in the sixth and a subsequent two-run HR to Kiermaier...Tossed the final 3.0 innings of 8/25 Game 1 win at Baltimore to earn his first career save (3H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K)…was the Yankees' "26th Man" for the doubleheader...Closed out 9/14 win vs. Toronto with 3.0 scoreless innings (3H, 1BB, 4K) to earn his second career save...Made the start on 9/30 at Boston and took the loss (0.1IP, 5H, 4R/3ER)…exited the game in the first inning after colliding with Eduardo Núñez at first base...In six games (five starts) for Scranton/WB, went 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA (26.1IP, 8ER)...In four spring training starts with the Yankees, went 2-0 with a 6.75 ERA (9.1IP, 7ER) and 10K.
2017
Went 0-3 with a 4.75 ERA (36.0IP, 19ER) in 10 games (five starts) over four stints with the Yankees (5/1, 6/15-7/8, 7/18-30 and 8/14-10/1)…was 0-3 with a 5.82 ERA (21.2IP, 14ER) in five starts and posted a 3.14 ERA (14.1IP, 5ER) without recording a decision in his five relief appearances... Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings (5H, 3K) in 7/4 loss vs. Toronto in the longest relief outing by a Yankee in 2017…was the longest scoreless relief appearance by a Yankee since Diego Moreno tossed 5.1 scoreless innings on 7/28/15 at Texas…became just the third Yankee since 1998 to toss at least 4.2IP with no runs or walks: Alfredo Aceves (5.1IP on 5/4/14 vs. Tampa Bay) and Aaron Small (6.2IP on 9/24/05 vs. Toronto)... Made his final relief appearance of the season in 7/30 loss vs. Tampa Bay, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings (1H, 4BB, 4K, 1WP)…was his highest strikeout total in 13 career relief appearances... Made his final appearance of the season on 8/14 vs. the Mets, starting and allowing 2ER in 4.1IP (5H, 1BB, 5K, 2HR) without recording a decision…allowed solo HRs to Granderson and Céspedes in the third, his second career multi-HR inning (also allowed 2HR in the sixth inning of a start on 9/11/16 vs. Tampa Bay)…recorded all three outs in the first inning via strikeout…was his first career appearance vs. the Mets, the organization that originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent infielder in 2008... Was placed on the 10-day disabled list on 8/15 with a ribcage injury and transferred to the 60-day D.L. on 9/1…was reinstated on 11/3… missed the team's final 45 games of the season... In 14 games (13 starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, went 4-6 with a 3.45 ERA (78.1IP, 30ER) with 67K.
2016
Saw his first Major League action, going 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA (70.1IP, 64H, 36R/34ER, 14BB, 46K, 16HR, 3HP, 2WP) in 17 games (nine starts) over four stints with the Yankees (4/4-15, 5/17-6/7, 6/26-7/5, 8/11-10/2)…made his first career Opening Day roster…opponents hit .241 (64-for-266); LH .234 (26-for-111), RH .245 (38-for-155)…won his first four career decisions. Allowed 24 of his 36R on his 16HR (10 solo, 4 two-run, 2 three-run)…his 2.05 HR/9.0IP ratio (16HR/70.1IP) was fifth-highest in the Majors among pitchers with at least 70.0IP. Made his first eight appearances out of the bullpen, going 2-0 with a 5.30 ERA (18.2IP, 11ER)…allowed all four inherited runners to score…retired 6-of-8 first batters faced (75.0%)…permitted five of his 11ER in his final relief outing on 8/14 vs. Tampa Bay…tossed at least 2.0IP in 6-of-8 relief outings. Made his Major League debut in 4/8 loss at Detroit, entering the game in relief and allowing 2H and 1ER in 2.0IP (2K, 1HR)…struck out Justin Upton (swinging) in the seventh for his first career strikeout. Earned his first Major League win on 6/29 vs. Texas, allowing 1ER in 3.0IP (1H, 2BB, 2K, 1HR) to close out the game. Made his final relief appearance of the season in 8/14 loss vs. Tampa Bay, allowing a career-high 5ER in 3.0IP (5H, 1BB, 2K, 1HR). Joined the rotation on 8/20 and was 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA (51.2IP, 47H, 24R/23ER, 8BB, 35K, 11HR) in nine starts…the Yankees were 5-4 in his starts…his 1.06 WHIP as a starter was fifth-lowest among AL starters (min. 50.0IP)…since 1913, only four Yankees rookie starters threw at least 50.0IP and had lower WHIPs (Tiny Bonham-0.97 in 1940, Jose Contreras-0.99 in 2003, Masahiro Tanaka-1.06 in 2014, Stan Bahnsen-1.06 in 1968)…completed 6.0IP in 5-of-9 starts, permitted 3ER-or-fewer in 7-of-9, and allowed 6H-or-fewer in all nine…permitted HRs in 7-of-9 starts (11HR total, accounting for 15-of-24R). Became the second pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 6H-or-fewer in each of his first nine career starts (Rollie Sheldon, first nine starts, 4/30-7/9/61)…is tied for the second-longest streak by any Major League pitcher who debuted since 2000, behind Washington's Mike O'Connor (first 12 starts, 4/27-6/24/06). Was the second Yankees pitcher since 2009 to record quality starts in each of his first three career starts, joining Masahiro Tanaka (AL-record first 16 starts)…was one of two Yankees pitchers since 2004 to win each of his first two career starts (Shane Greene, first 2GS in 2014). Earned the win in his first Major League start on 8/20 at Los Angeles-AL after tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (3H, 1BB, 5K, 1HP)…was the first Yankee to record at least 6.0 scoreless innings in his first career start since Jorge De Paula on 9/26/03-G2 vs. Baltimore…at 24 years, 117 days old, was the youngest Yankees pitcher to toss at least 6.0 scoreless innings with 3H-or-fewer since Joba Chamberlain (23y, 309d) allowed 3H over 8.0IP on 7/29/09 at Tampa Bay.Went 6-3 with one complete game and a 3.03 ERA (77.1IP, 66H, 33R/26ER, 23BB, 69K, 8HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the RailRiders…held opponents to a .235 (66-for-281) BA; LH .225 (27-for-120), RH .242 (39-for-161)…allowed 1ER-or-fewer in six of his last eight starts, going 6-2 with a 2.06 ERA (48.0IP, 11ER) over the span…in his last minor league start on 8/5 vs. Syracuse, struck out a season-high 11 batters over 7.2IP (5H, 1ER, 1BB, 1HR, 1WP) to earn the win…was one shy of his career-high 12K, set exactly three years earlier on 8/5/13 w/ Single-A Savannah vs. Charleston…threw his first career complete-game shutout on 7/26 vs. Buffalo (7.0IP, 4H, 1BB, 4K). In his first Major League spring training, posted a 1-0 record, a 3.27 ERA (11.0IP, 4ER) and 11K in six appearances (one start) to earn a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.
2015
Combined to go 8-10 with a 4.52 ERA (139.1IP, 163H, 77R/70ER, 36BB, 119K, 7HR) in 25 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas in the Mets organization and Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers organization...Began the season with the B-Mets and went 7-4 with a 2.56 ERA (77.1IP, 77H, 25R/22ER, 17BB, 61K, 2HR) in 13 starts...ranked eighth in the Eastern League in ERA and tied for sixth in wins at the time of his 7/3 promotion...allowed one-or-zero runs in 8-of-13 starts...in his season debut on 4/12 at Akron, faced the minimum and permitted only 1H over 7.0 scoreless innings to earn the win (0BB, 8K)...Was 0-3 with an 8.51 ERA (24.1IP, 40H, 25R/23ER, 4BB, 24K, 3HR) in five starts for the 51s...Was traded to the Tigers along with RHP Michael Fulmer in exchange for OF Yoenis Cespedes on 7/31...made seven starts for the Mud Hens, going 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA (37.2IP, 46H, 27R/25ER, 15BB, 34K, 2HR)... Was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster on 11/3...Was acquired by the Yankees from Detroit along with RHP Chad Green in exchange for LHP Justin Wilson on 12/9/15.
2014
Posted a 7-8 record, a 4.00 ERA (114.2IP, 110H, 54R/51ER, 27BB, 83K, 7HR) and one complete game in 20 starts at Single-A St. Lucie...also made one spot start for Double-A Binghamton, taking the loss on 5/21 at Portland (3.2IP, 7H, 5ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR, 1WP)...allowed a combined .259 (117-for-451) batting average; LH .283 (64-for-226, 7HR); RH .236 (53-for-225, 2HR)...Recorded a season-high 10K and did not walk a batter in a 6/4 win at Dunedin (7.0IP, 5H, 3ER).
2013
Went 8-4 with a 3.12 ERA (130.0IP, 136H, 53R/45ER, 19BB, 124K, 11HR) and one complete game in 21 starts at Single-A Savannah...ranked eighth in the South Atlantic League in ERA...among SAL pitchers who threw at least 125.0IP, finished third in K/BB ratio (6.53) and BB per 9.0IP ratio (1.32) and fifth in K per 9.0IP ratio (8.58)...Allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 13-of-21 outings and issued 1BB-or-fewer in 16-of-21 starts...Over his final 13 starts (beg. 6/1), was 6-2 with a 2.46 ERA (84.0IP, 79H, 26R/23ER, 10BB, 84K, 3HR)...logged a 19.1-inning scoreless streak from 5/26-6/15...Posted his first two career double-digit strikeout games, recording 10K over 7.2 scoreless innings (2H, 0BB) on 6/1 at Kannapolis and a career-high 12K over 8.0 scoreless frames (4H, 0BB) on 8/5 vs. Charleston...Was named SAL "Pitcher of the Week" for 5/27-6/3, going 1-0 with a 0.63 ERA (14.1IP, 1ER) and 17K in two starts.
2012
Spent the season with short-season Single-A Brooklyn, posting a 5-4 record while ranking 10th in the New York-Penn League with a 2.49 ERA (72.1IP, 64H, 21R/20ER, 13BB, 44K, 4HR) in 13 starts...allowed a .241 (64-for-266) opponents' batting average; LH .257 (28-for-109, 0HR); RH .229 (36-for-157, 4HR)...Allowed 2R-or-fewer in 11-of-13 starts, including his final start of the year, in which he permitted 1R over a career-high 8.2 innings (6H, 1BB, 2K) in a win on 9/3 vs. Lowell.
2011
Split his first season as a pitcher between the DSL Mets 2 and the GCL Mets, going 4-3 with one save and a 3.19 ERA (53.2IP, 48H, 23R/19ER, 13BB, 46K, 1HR) in 15 games (six starts)...limited opponents to a .239 (48-for-201) batting average...Went 0-1 with a 2.49 ERA (21.2IP, 19H, 8R/6ER, 3BB, 23K) in five starts in the DSL...was promoted to the GCL on 6/29 and was 4-2 with one save and a 3.66 ERA (32.0IP, 29H, 15R/13ER, 10BB, 23K) in 10 games (one start).
2010
Batted .162 (11-for-68) with 2R, 2 doubles and 3RBI in 23 games with the DSL Mets 1...committed 3E in 82TC (.963) while splitting time between 2B (10G/10GS) and 3B (10G/9GS).
2009
Made his professional debut as an infielder with the DSL Mets, batting .191 (17-for-89) with 17R, 1 double, 1 triple, 1HR, 9RBI, 19BB and 8SB in 34 games...posted a .379 on-base percentage...Committed 8E in 98TC (.918) while playing 3B (22G/21GS), 2B (8G/4GS) and SS (1G/0GS).