The Chicago White Sox have a blossoming ace in their rotation, a development that comes at a very opportunistic time.
Lance Lynn is currently injured, and the organization let ace Carlos Rodon go via free agency.
Dylan Cease, however, is taking yet another step forward this year.
He had already taken one last year, increasing his strikeout rate from 17.3 percent in 2020 to 31.9 percent last year.
Now, he is improving his run-prevention skills.
In 2021, he finished with a 3.91 ERA, but he is at an impressive 2.48 ERA in the early portion of the 2022 campaign.
Young pitchers usually require patience, and thankfully, the White Sox have certainly exercised it with Cease.
He is repaying their faith with incredible performances on the mound.
His last start was incredibly dominant.
He Is Making History
In fact, he became just the second pitcher in franchise history to throw seven-plus innings with one hit or less allowed, no walks, and at least 11 strikeouts in a game.
Making history. pic.twitter.com/AxIgoCaN7v
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 3, 2022
Just when the AL Central division is getting more and more competitive, the White Sox go ahead and develop another ace.
If Cease keeps pitching like this, he might find himself in the Cy Young conversation at the end of the season.
His performance is yet another reason why the Jose Quintana trade in 2017 is considered a steal for the White Sox.
The Pale Hose got slugger Eloy Jimenez and Cease, along with two other minor leaguers, for Quintana, who has struggled ever since leaving the South Side of Chicago.
Cease is blossoming into one of the best young starters in the American League right before our eyes.
It took some years of frustrating performance, lots of walks, and spotty command, but it’s finally happening.
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