White Sox: Four Reasons Why Will Dylan Cease Breakout 2021

Dylan Cease is going to have a breakout season for the Chicago White Sox.

Even before he was named the 2018 MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year, it was known Dylan Cease had some front end of rotation potential, it was only a matter of time until he tapped into it for the Chicago White Sox.

After a lackluster rookie season in 2019, many not only hoped but expected Cease to have a strong 2020. Following the breakout season of his teammate Lucas Giolito the year prior, the attention shifted away from him and onto Cease’s shoulders to be the next pitcher to take that next step. Especially with Michael Kopech opting out of 2020, Cease needed to be the ace Giolito already was for the White Sox to make a World Series run.

There was a slight improvement on the year before, but he was just not as good as the team would have liked, considering the role he was in at the time. Combined with ‘19 and ‘20, Cease has an ERA of 5.00 on 131.1 innings. He has given up 128 hits and 73 earned runs. He has also allowed 27 home runs and 69 walks while only striking out 125 batters. That’s not exactly rookie of the year stuff.

His major league numbers are almost opposite to his minor league numbers. In 2018, Cease posted a 2.40 ERA in 124 innings along with 160 strikeouts and only 50 walks. The Dylan Cease of the major leagues is not the same that pitched in the minors. As the calendar turns over and a new season is about to begin, a sort of optimism fills the air. Cease has struggled so far, but if you stop and look at some small, hidden details, it could give you similar optimism that will make you believe 2021 will be the year Dylan Cease breaks out.