Top pitching prospect Dylan Cease joining Chicago White Sox rotation Wednesday
Before the Chicago White Sox opened their homestand against the Twins Friday night, general manager Rick Hahn was asked for another update on top pitching prospect Dylan Cease.
"We've said all along Dylan Cease was going to get to Chicago based on what Dylan Cease is doing, not based upon what other players are doing," Hahn said. "Based upon what Dylan Cease has been doing, we're getting awful close to that time."
"Awfully close" turned out to be code for Wednesday.
Before the Sox wrapped up a three-game series against Minnesota on Sunday afternoon, manager Rick Renteria announced Cease is coming up from Class AAA Charlotte on Wednesday. The 23-year-old righty will start Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field.
In 15 starts with Charlotte this season, Cease is 5-2 with a 4.48 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder had a rough June, giving up 16 earned runs on 25 hits and 12 walks over 17⅓ innings.
"His last few outings over there, he's been working and trying to get himself back on track," Renteria said. "I think he's done a really nice job of just gathering more knowledge down there and getting his innings in. This will be a situation now where he comes in here and has to perform.
"I think probably everybody is looking for him to be challenged now. Everybody feels this is the right time."
Teams get one extra player for a doubleheader, and starters often come up from the minor leagues and go right back down after pitching Game 1 or 2.
Cease is joining the Sox on a permanent basis.
"You can safely say that we anticipate him being around," Renteria said.
Cease will be a welcome addition to a White Sox rotation that has a serious drop-off after all-star Lucas Giolito.
Reynaldo Lopez (6.12) and Ivan Nova (5.92) have the second and third highest ERA in the majors leagues.
Carlos Rodon is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery in May, and Dylan Covey and Manny Banuelos are on the injury list with shoulder issues.
"It's kind of a coincidence that his arrival is coming at the right time for us, where we need someone to maybe help stabilize us in the rotation," Renteria said. "It just worked out that the timing is what it is. Hopefully, it works out that it does help us stabilize.
"It's another young man who's going to go through a process of continuing to learn at the major league level."
Before joining the White Sox on June 19, Zack Collins was catching Cease at Charlotte. He is not concerned about the young pitcher's June swoon.
"I think it's just a feel thing," Collins said. "Sometimes you go out there and you don't have a feel for your stuff and it gets in your head a little bit. Obviously he wants to be in the big leagues. That's probably messing with him a little bit."