GLENDALE, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- Named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by MLB Pipeline in 2018, right-hander Dylan Cease made his much anticipated spring debut for the White Sox on Tuesday afternoon.
Cease, 23, went just one inning, allowing a base hit to the outfield and an infield single but no runs against the Indians. He threw 14 pitches and consistently hit 98 miles per hour.
"My command wasn't great, but my body felt good," Cease said. "The ball was coming out good. This was a first good step."
The White Sox will bring Cease along slowly this spring, as he has a history of arm issues. He underwent Tommy John surgery about a month after the Cubs drafted him in 2014.
Cease logged a career-high 124 innings in 2018, and the plan now is for him to build off that with a simple goal: take the ball every five days.
"We are going to extend his innings usage this year," manager Rick Renteria said.
"Hopefully we are doing it the right way, so we get as much mound time for him (as possible) this coming season."
Cease believes he learned a lot about himself in 2018, when he posted a 2.40 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings in time split between advanced Class-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham.
"It was about finding a couple of things that worked for me last year," Cease said. "I had to make a few adjustments. I didn't have those big innings where I wasn't able to find the strike zone. I was able to be consistent with all my pitches. That helped me go more innings and less stressful innings too."
The White Sox hope to promote Cease by early summer if everything goes to plan. As you'd expect, Cease's eyes are already on the big leagues.
"It is always good to see how your stuff plays against the best," Cease said. "I am sure hitters here have better approaches. It is always good to see how your stuff plays against the best. You never know how it will go when you go to the next level.
"Whatever they (the front office) want me to do, I will do it. I will just try to work my way up there."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
