RHP Dylan Cease, LHP Manuel Rondon named to Baseball America’s Short-Season All-Star Team
Baseball America announced its players and pitchers of the year for each minor league classification and its year-end All-Star teams this past week. The Cubs Minor League Player of the Year, Eloy Jimenez, was named Baseball America’s Low Class-A Player of the Year and the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Trevor Clifton received BA’s High Class-A Pitcher of the Year Award.
Two of the top young pitchers in the Cubs’ system, RHP Dylan Cease and LHP Manuel Rondon were named to Baseball America’s Short-Season All-Star Team.
RHP Dylan Cease and LHP Manuel Rondon had excellent seasons for the Northwest League Champions, Eugene Emeralds.
Dylan Cease, 20, started 12 games in the regular season for the Ems. Cease went 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Cease allowed 14 runs, 11 earned, on 27 hits with 25 walks and 66 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.
In the second half, Cease was 1-0 in seven starts with a 1.17 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Cease surrendered five runs, three earned, on eight hits with 17 walks and 43 strikeouts in 23 innings.
Counting his postseason appearance, Cease did not allow a run over his last three starts, covering 14 innings. Cease gave up just five hits with six walks and 24 strikeouts.
Manuel Rondon, 21, was the Northwest League Pitcher of the Year. The lefty was 6-1 in 12 starts with a miniscule 1.10 ERA and 1.26 WHIP for the champs. In 57 1/3 innings, Rondon gave up 15 runs, seven earned, on 50 hits with 22 walks and 49 strikeouts.
Over his last six regular season starts, Rondon allowed two runs on 25 hits with 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings while posting a 3-1 record with a 0.59 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
• Full Report from Baseball America – 2016 Minor League Classification All-Star Teams