The friendly smile, polite manners and southern accent that reveals his Louisiana roots are all familiar.

And so are the expectations.

GAVIN CECCHINI

Another Cecchini played at Hadlock Field Monday and, like his brother Garin, Gavin Cecchini is destined for the major leagues.

Gavin Cecchini, 21, played shortstop for the Binghamton Mets, two seasons after Garin Cecchini played third base here for the Sea Dogs. Garin, 24, who made his major league debut last year, is currently with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Both the Red Sox and Mets have invested much into the Cecchinis. Boston drafted Garin in the fourth round in 2010, giving him a $1.3 million signing bonus. A third baseman, Garin has also been playing left field for Pawtucket – since the Red Sox now have Pablo Sandoval.

Gavin Cecchini, like Garin, played for his father, Glenn Cecchini, at national powerhouse Barbe High School of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Gavin had a scholarship offer from the University of Mississippi, which he spurned when the Mets chose him in the first round (12th overall) of the 2012 draft, and signed him for $2.3 million.

If Gavin had gone to Mississippi, he would be a junior this year. Instead, he’s in his fourth pro season.

“I had my doubts with a 21-year-old playing in this league,” Binghamton Manager Pedro Lopez said. “He played for (Class A teams) Savannah and St. Lucie, and all of a sudden he’s in Double-A.

“It’s a tougher league against older players. But he’s done a great job at short and at the plate. I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.”

What Cecchini has shown has been limited this season. After nine games – and a .333 average and a home run – Cecchini went down last week with a strained groin muscle. Monday was his first game back in the lineup.

For a first-round pick, the projections on Cecchini are mixed. In his first two seasons in the rookie leagues, Cecchini batted .256 with a total of one home run. Cecchini said he was searching.

“You get into pro ball and there’s a lot of people that want to put their stamp on you. They all have bits and pieces to tell you what worked for them. But that might not necessarily work for you,” Cecchini said.

“I know what works for me and I know my game plan and my approach, offensively and defensively. As long as I stick with that, that’s plenty good enough.”

In Class A last year, Cecchini batted a combined .247, but with eight home runs, and an OPS of .707. The added power was not intentional.

“No. Just being myself,” Cecchini said.

Now that he’s in Double-A, Mets fans might begin to wonder when they will see the prospect. The pressure may be mounting, but he welcomes it.

“I love the spotlight,” Cecchini said. “I love the big lights. I love the hardcore, in-your-face fans that are going to boo you when you’re not doing well – and cheer you when you’re doing well.

“It comes with it (being a first-round pick for a New York team), being in the big spotlight, in the big city. But you got to love it. I wouldn’t want to be playing anywhere else besides the Big Apple.

“That’s what I’m shooting for.”

Cecchini has competition. The Mets’ 2012 second-round pick was University of Arkansas infielder Matt Reynolds, 24, and he’s playing shortstop for Triple-A Las Vegas. And playing short for advanced Class A St. Lucie is Amed Rosario, 19, who signed for $1.75 million three years ago.

After a week off, Cecchini finally got back into action Monday. Before the rain delay, he had an eight-pitch at-bat that ended in a walk.

In the field, he made a nice play on a bouncer behind the mound but, in the second inning, made a wild throw for his first error.

Cecchini will get plenty of chances to prove himself.

“He’s been a steady shortstop,” Lopez said. “With the more games he’s out there, he’ll only get better. And the more at-bats he gets, he’ll become a good hitter.”