Dylan Cease is considered by many the top pitching prospect in the system. And by all accounts the 20-year old right-hander had an impressive outing Wednesday on the backfields at the Cubs’ complex.
Cease pitched in an Intrasquad game starting for the Low-A South Bend group. According to Baseball America, Cease’s fastball sat in the 97-99 mph range and touched 100 during his two-inning outing.
Baseball America talked to Cease after his start. Cease said he felt good and was pleased with his first outing of the spring. Cease had some command issues and “yanked some pitches.”
Theo Epstein watched Cease’s start along with a “cavalcade of scouts from both inside and outside the organization.” Cease featured the blazing fastball and a “power curveball in the low-80s.” Baseball America reported Cease did not throw his changeup Wednesday.
The Cubs selected Cease in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. Cease is almost two calendar years removed from Tommy John surgery.
Cease appeared in 11 games for the AZL Cubs last season and was 1-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Cease allowed 12 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits with 16 walks and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings.
The Cubs have not said where Dylan Cease will begin the season. Before Spring Training started it was believed Cease would stay in extended Spring Training and eventually join South Bend’s rotation.
Low-A South Bend’s Opening Day rotation is expected to include RHP Oscar De La Cruz, LHP Justin Steele and LHP Carson Sands. Baseball America seems to think Cease could begin the season with the SB Cubs.
Dylan Cease had a good start to what should be a very good season for the young right-hander.
• Full Report from Baseball America – Includes Video