From Heartbreak To History: Dylan Cease Becomes Latest Former White Sox Pitcher To Find Success

Dylan Cease was just one strike shy of throwing a no-hitter. 

It was September 2nd, 2022, and the right-hander was working on a masterpiece against the Minnesota Twins. Moments earlier he had walked off the mound with his arms raised as 31,655 fans rose to their feet. Cease, who is not known for showing emotion on the mound, was putting on a show for the fans at 35th and Shields. Through eight innings he needed just 91 pitches to record 24 outs. His only blemish was a leadoff walk in the third inning. 

As Cease took the mound in the ninth inning fans anxiously watched as he squared off against Caleb Hamilton, who was searching for his first major league hit. Hamilton would have to wait. Cease buried a slider in the dirt for his sixth strikeout of the night. Cease then got Gilbert Celestino to swing at the first pitch he saw and pop out softly to Adam Engel in center field. Now the only thing standing between Cease and baseball history was Luis Arez, Cease’s first strikeout victim back in the fifth inning. 

With Kyle Garlick on deck, Cease could have pitched around Arraez. After, all Arraez was the American League hits leader.  Instead, he went right after him. His first pitch was a low slider. Cease then challenged Arraez with a high fastball that Arraez fouled off his foot. The 26-year-old then attacked Arraez with a high knuckle curve. Once again, Arraez fouled it off, bringing Cease just one strike away. The fans at Guaranteed Rate began chanting his name as he uncorked his 99th pitch of the night. It was a 90 mph slider, but this time Arraez was ready; he ripped it to right field to break up the no-hitter. Cease would have to settle for a complete game shutout. 

Unfinished Business

Flash forward 701 days later and Cease was once again on the verge of history, this time wearing a San Diego Padres uniform. 

 Things were not as easy for Cease this time around. He had to wait through an hour-plus rain delay before the first pitch against the Nationals. After throwing his 94th pitch of the game to finish the seventh inning he was greeted at the top step of the dugout by Padres manager Mike Shildt. Shildt wanted to remove him from the game. Cease lobbied for a shot to chase history. It took some convincing by Shildt ultimately decided to let Cease go back out there for the eighth inning. 

Cease responded by throwing an efficient nine-pitch inning to give him another crack at a no-hitter. After recording two ground outs to open the ninth inning Cease found himself in familiar territory, one out away from a no-hitter. 

CJ Abrams, a former Padre who was traded to Washington in the Juan Soto trade was the last obstacle for Cease. For a brief moment, it looked like history was about to repeat itself. Cease threw a slider on the outer half of the plate that Abrams ripped to right field. It was the first contact all day that had a hit probability over 50 percent. 

“I didn’t like it off the bat,” Cease told reporters after the game. “He looked very hitterish. But fortunately, fate’s on my side today.” 

Unlike the slider that landed in the right field grass off the bat of Arraez nearly two years earlier, this one landed in the glove of right fielder Bryce Johnson for the second no-hitter in Padres history.  Cease had finally done it. After being mobbed by his teammates a familiar face handed Cease the ball used for the final out. His teammate Luis Arraez. 

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball

Cease had finished the game with 114 pitches, nine strikeouts, and three walks. In the process, he became the first pitcher since 1901 to record 30 or more strikeouts and allow two hits or less in a three-outing span. It leaves White Sox fans wondering, what if? 

Cease is the latest in a long line of former White Sox pitchers to find success. Chris Sale went on to win a World Series and is now the front-runner to be the NL Cy Young winner. Carlos Rodon cashed in on his White Sox success with a big payday from the New York Yankees. Lance Lynn recorded his 2,000 career strikeout with the Cardinals. Reynaldo Lopez is in the midst of his most successful season as a starting pitcher, posting a 2.12 ERA through 18 starts with the Braves.

Looking back at the Dylan Cease trade it is hard to be upset with the return. Drew Thorpe is off to an excellent start in the big leagues, while Samuel Zavala continues to develop, as the White Sox hope he can one day become a long-term piece in right field. It is shaping up to be a good deal for Chris Getz and company.

But after watching another pitcher that the White Sox let go find success in another team's jersey, the upcoming trade deadline comes to mind. Garrett Corchet and Erick Fedde have been two of the best pitchers in the American League this season. Each is expected to be traded soon.

How many more arms will we have to watch go onto greener pastures?