CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- It was last August that Michael Kopech made his much anticipated big league debut for the White Sox. In late March, it was Eloy Jimenez who fans excitedly watched as he did the same on Opening Day.
Come Wednesday, the White Sox will get another first look at a vital piece of their future. Right-hander Dylan Cease will make his MLB debut by starting for the White Sox when they host the Tigers in the 1:10 p.m. opener of a day-night doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The excitement is palpable inside the organization and clubhouse. In the aftermath of announcing Cease's ascension Sunday, the White Sox sold 500 more tickets, and Cease's new teammates are anxiously awaiting his debut.
"He has been putting the work in down at the minor league level," White Sox ace Lucas Giolito said. "Now it's time for him to come up here and help the team contribute to victories."
Cease, 23, was 5-2 with a 4.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings across 15 starts at Triple-A Charlotte this season. He was dominant in 2018, being named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by MLB Pipeline. The White Sox acquired Cease along with Jimenez when they traded left-hander Jose Quintana to the Cubs in July 2017.
"It was time to get him here," manager Rick Renteria said of Cease. "His last two outings were not that impressive. The thought was maybe it was time for the challenge and see if he can raise his game up a little bit."
White Sox catcher Zack Collins caught Cease often at Charlotte and provided a scouting report.
"He is very smooth," Collins said. "He has a smooth delivery, and he seems locked in between the catcher and himself very well. He lets the ball go and it comes out an easy 98 (mph).
"It is just a matter of time before he goes out there and dominates. He is pretty calm out there whether he is feeling well or horrible. He is always the same guy. He will just go out there and compete."
White Sox reliever Evan Marshall's first impression of Cease came back in spring training, and then he saw him up close at Charlotte earlier this season too.
"I didn't know who Dylan Cease was," Marshall said. "He showed up in a spring training game throwing 98 (mph), sometimes sitting at 99. That grabs your attention right away. Being with him at Charlotte, it's not just a fastball. It is about how he moves it around. The curveball and changeup -- the impressive way he moves it in and out on both sides of the plate. He goes out and pitches. He doesn't just go out and throw."
The White Sox have praised Cease for his mental development as well as the refinement of his arsenal.
"He is very similar to me the way he gets ready -- he is very cerebral," Giolito said. "He thinks a lot. Part of my job is to show how to think in the right way part of the time, not to be too analytical. He has nasty, nasty stuff. I am very excited about what he is going to bring. I hope he soaks it all in, enjoys competing and get used to the swing of things around here."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
