Dylan Cease Bio
Dylan Edward Cease is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. Cease was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft. He was later traded to the White Sox in 2017 and made his MLB debut with the team in 2019, playing through the 2023 season. Before the 2024 season, Cease was traded to the Padres, where he threw a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals on July 25. He remained with the Padres through the 2025 season, after which he became a free agent and signed with the Blue Jays for the largest free agent contract in Blue Jays history at the time.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Cease was born on December 28, 1995, in Milton, Georgia, into a family with a strong baseball background. His father, Jeff Cease, played high school football, while his paternal grandmother, Betty Cease, was a professional baseball player in the late 1940s. His paternal uncle, Bruce Cease, was selected by the Washington Senators in the 1971 MLB draft and played as a first baseman for the Senators’ and Houston Astros’ minor league affiliates. Cease began playing baseball at the age of four alongside his fraternal twin brother, Alec. Their father coached the teams they played on throughout their youth, and both brothers traveled extensively across Georgia to participate in baseball competitions. Growing up in Milton, a suburb north of Atlanta, Cease was an Atlanta Braves fan from a young age, holding season tickets to Braves games at Turner Field, where he watched many contests live. During his childhood, Cease particularly admired Braves Hall of Famers Chipper Jones and John Smoltz, as well as Alex Rodriguez.
Path to Baseball
Cease attended Milton High School in Milton, Georgia, graduating in 2014. He was a member of the school’s baseball team, the Milton Eagles, where he served as the team’s ace pitcher. Cease was recognized for his ability to generate significant velocity while exerting minimal effort. His pitching arsenal included a power fastball that averaged between 91 and 95 miles per hour, a curveball considered his strongest secondary pitch, and a changeup. Outside of school competitions, Cease competed with Team Elite, a nationally ranked travel baseball program. During his junior season, he led the Eagles to the 2013 GHSA Class 6A State Baseball Championship, finishing with a 9–0 win–loss record and a 0.81 earned run average. After his junior season, Cease was invited to participate in the 2013 Perfect Game National Showcase and was later selected to participate in the 2013 Perfect Game All-American Classic.
Dylan Cease Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Cease was selected 169th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft directly out of high school. He signed with the Cubs for a $1.5 million signing bonus, which was the fourth-highest ever awarded to a sixth-round pick. Following a successful Tommy John surgery to repair a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, Cease resumed throwing in May 2015 and made his professional debut with the Rookie-level AZL Cubs. He played for the Short-Season A Eugene Emeralds in 2016, posting a 2–0 record and a 2.22 earned run average. Cease began the 2017 season with the Class A South Bend Cubs before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in July 2017. He finished the 2017 season with a combined 1–10 record and a 3.28 earned run average across 22 starts.
Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Cease made his Major League Baseball debut on July 3, 2019, for the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers. He finished the 2019 season with a 4–7 record and a 5.79 earned run average. Cease’s performance improved significantly in subsequent seasons, culminating in a standout 2022 season where he finished with a 14–8 record and a 2.20 earned run average, earning him a spot on the All-MLB Second Team and finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. He agreed to a one-year, $5.7 million contract with the White Sox in January 2023, avoiding salary arbitration. Cease finished the 2023 season with a 7–9 record and a 4.58 earned run average.
Notable Works and Milestones
Cease’s most notable achievements include throwing a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals on July 25, 2024, while playing for the San Diego Padres. He has consistently been recognized for his pitching performances, leading the league in strikeouts and earning multiple Pitcher of the Month awards.
Dylan Cease Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Dylan Cease has received various nominations, including recognition for his outstanding pitching performances in the American League.
Dylan Cease Awards Won
Dylan Cease has earned several awards during his career, including the AL Pitcher of the Month Award for his exceptional performances in 2022.
Dylan Cease Family
Information regarding Dylan Cease’s family is limited, with no publicly available details about his parents or siblings.
Personal Life
Dylan Cease is of Jewish descent through his father. He is an amateur disc golfer and practices mindfulness, wearing the No. 84 jersey as a tribute to the 84 classic asanas in the yoga tradition.