Dylan Cease shared that his final season with the Chicago White Sox “wasn’t enjoyable in pretty much any aspect.” The top pitcher faced challenges, and the team had a tough time.
But now, with the San Diego Padres, things are looking up for Cease. “It’s really exciting to be at the ballpark,” Cease mentioned. “Even back with the Sox, I felt we had the talent. It just didn’t come together.”
Cease is back in Chicago for a series against the Cubs this week. While the Padres will face the White Sox later in the season, that series will be in San Diego in September.
The 28-year-old Cease was drafted by the Cubs in 2014. He’ll be starting the final game of the series at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.
“It’s always nice to return,” he said before Monday night’s game, which the Padres won 6-3. “While I don’t have as much history with the Cubs, I do enjoy playing at Wrigley and being in Chicago.”
The White Sox got Cease and slugger Eloy Jiménez in a major trade with the Cubs in 2017, swapping them for veteran pitcher Jose Quintana. Cease and Jiménez was seen as part of a promising young group for the White Sox, but the team faced struggles after making the playoffs in 2020 and 2021.
Cease had a standout year in 2022, posting a 14-8 record with a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts. He also notched a career-high 227 strikeouts in 184 innings and came in second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
However, things took a turn last year as his ERA rose to 4.58 over 33 starts, and the White Sox ended the season with a disappointing 61-101 record.
“We thought we had a strong chance to compete, but it just didn’t come together,” Cease reflected. “We had a tough year, which led to the need for some changes.”
Amidst rumors, Cease was traded to San Diego in March for reliever Steven Wilson and three prospects. He swiftly joined his new team in South Korea. Following Cease’s departure, the White Sox struggled, losing 22 of their first 25 games this season.
“Baseball’s unpredictable, and things can change quickly,” Cease remarked. “Maybe they’ll turn things around with a winning streak. It’s a bit surprising, but anything can happen in this game.”
Since joining the Padres, Cease has adapted well. He holds a 4-2 record with a 2.55 ERA in seven starts this season and has struck out 48 batters in 42 1/3 innings, resembling his form from two years ago.
