Mike Cero

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Mike is the brother of Greg Cero.  He graduated from Westview High School in 2006 where he played under Coaches Jeff Shull and Steve Antich.  Mike was a First Team All Metro selection his senior year and a Second Team All State selection as a catcher. 

Mike attended Division I, Arkansas State in 2006-07 and played under former big leaguer, Keith Kessinger.  In the summer of 2007, Mike was a part of the Delaware Cows in Ohio where they were ranked 15^th in the country.  Mike returned to Portland in 2008 to play with a baseball scholarship at Mt. Hood Community College.  Last spring, Mike started and caught every game for the Mt. Hood Saints setting a school record for the number of innings caught in league play.  He hit above .300 and was second on the team in doubles.  In post-season play, Mike hit .400 and was in the top five in NWAACC Tournament play. 

In 2006, Mike received an invitation to join the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training.  That same summer, he was the bullpen catcher for the Portland Beavers, the AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, where he caught and worked with 12 big league pitchers.  He continues to make improvements to his game while working under the close guidance of Toronto Blue Jays catcher, Gregg Zaun.  Mike intends to transfer to the University of Oregon or Oregon State in the fall of 2009, and looks forward to continuing his career with the Beavers or Ducks.