Dylan Edward Cease (born December 28, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.
| Dylan Cease | |
|---|---|
Cease with the Chicago White Sox in 2019 | |
| Chicago White Sox – No. 84 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1995-12-28) December 28, 1995 (age 26) Milton, Georgia | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 3, 2019, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 36–26 |
| Earned run average | 3.56 |
| Strikeouts | 578 |
| Teams | |
| |
Cease attended Milton High School in Milton, Georgia. Pitching for the school's baseball team, his fastball velocity averaged 91 to 95 miles per hour (146 to 153 km/h), while peaking at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h).[1] In games that he did not pitch, Cease played shortstop.[2] In 2013, his junior year, Milton won the state championship in baseball. Cease also appeared in a second straight state championship series, but lost to Lambert High School.[3] Cease committed to attend Vanderbilt University on a college baseball scholarship to play for the Vanderbilt Commodores.[2][4] During the summer seasons, Cease competed for Team Elite out of Winder, GA, and excelled, earning him an invitation to the Perfect Game National Showcase and Perfect Game All-American Classic.
In August 2013, prior to Cease's senior year at Milton, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com considered Cease to be a potential first-round draft choice in the upcoming 2014 MLB draft.[5] Cease left a game during his senior season, on March 3, 2014, due to elbow soreness,[2] which was later diagnosed as a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow in his pitching arm.[1]
As a result of his injury, Cease fell in the draft, and the Chicago Cubs selected him in the sixth round.[1] He signed with the Cubs, receiving a $1.5 million signing bonus, well above the $269,500 recommended at that slot. After he signed, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL.[6][4] He resumed throwing in May 2015,[7] and pitched for the Arizona Cubs of the Rookie-level Arizona League.[8] At the end of the 2015 season, Baseball America rated Cease as the second-best prospect in the Arizona League.[9] He spent the 2016 season with the Eugene Emeralds of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, where he posted a 2–0 win–loss record with a 2.22 earned run average and 66 strikeouts in 44+2⁄3 innings pitched.[10]
Cease began the 2017 season with the South Bend Cubs of the Class A Midwest League. Cease had a 1-2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 13 starts for South Bend.[11]
On July 13, 2017, the Cubs traded Cease, Eloy Jiménez, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete to the Chicago White Sox for José Quintana.[12] The White Sox assigned him to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League.[13] In 22 total games between South Bend and Kannapolis, Cease posted a 1-10 record with a 3.28 ERA along with 126 strikeouts in a career high 93+1⁄3 innings pitched.[14]
Cease began the 2018 season with the Winston-Salem Dash of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League,[15] and earned a midseason promotion to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League.[16] Cease was selected to represent the White Sox at the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.[17] The White Sox added Cease to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[18]
Cease opened the 2019 season with the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League.[19] On July 3, the White Sox promoted him to the major leagues.[20] In his debut he pitched five innings, allowed three runs, struck out six batters, and earned the win.[21] He finished the season with a 4–7 record and a 5.79 ERA in 73 innings.[22] In 2020 he was 5-4 with a 4.01 ERA.[23] He led the AL in walks, with 34.[24]
On May 4, 2021, Dylan Cease hit his first career major league hit during a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Cease went 3-for-3 at the plate and pitched six scoreless innings giving up one hit and striking out 11 as the White Sox won 9-0. In 2021, Cease made 32 starts with a record of 13-7 and an ERA of 3.91 and pitched 165.2 innings while striking out 226 batters and lead the American League in K/9 with 12.3. Cease made his first career postseason start in Game 3 of the 2021 ALDS against the Houston Astros. Cease struggled only pitching 1.2 innings and giving up three runs while striking out only two batters in the White Sox' 12-6 win.
In 2022, Cease was named the June AL Pitcher of the Month, his first such monthly honor.[25] Cease was also named the July AL Pitcher of the Month, becoming the first pitcher in White Sox history to win two such awards in consecutive months.[26] On September 3, Cease carried a no-hitter through 8+2⁄3 innings against the Minnesota Twins before second baseman Luis Arráez hit a line drive single into right-center field. Cease finished the complete game shutout after this (the first complete game of his career), allowing one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts.[27] In 2022 he was 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts covering 184 innings, led the majors with 78 walks allowed, threw sliders 42.9% of the time, more than any other pitcher in the major leagues, and at 77.8 mph threw the slowest changeup in the major leagues.[28][29]
Cease has a twin brother, Alec, who also played on the Milton High School team as a catcher and third baseman.[1][4]
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