Cepeda begins his second season with the Ducks and third in professional baseball. The right-hander returns to the Flock after pitching in 32 games (four starts) in 2022. He compiled a 5-2 record with a 4.30 ERA and 39 strikeouts to 20 walks over 58.2 innings pitched. As a reliever, the Port Jefferson Station native went 3-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 28 games and held opponents to a .263 batting average. He was especially strong during the month of July, posting a 2-0 mark with a 2.84 ERA in 10 appearances. Cepeda moved into the starting rotation on August 28 against Charleston and earned the win in his first professional start, tossing six and two-thirds innings of two-run ball.

The 26-year-old began his pro career in 2019 when he signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. He made 13 appearances that season, going 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA and 14 strikeouts to seven walks over 14.1 innings. Prior to his professional career, the righty attended Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, N.Y. He then played collegiate baseball at Dowling College (Oakdale, N.Y.) and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.) from 2016-2019, going 27-13 with a 3.22 ERA, one shutout, one save and 276 strikeouts in 324.0 innings pitched across 53 games (45 starts).