It has been a strange year for Dylan Cease, the Cubs’ most highly-touted pitching prospect. Armed with an upper 90’s fastball and a mid-70’s curve, Cease wasted no time annihilating most of the Midwest League in April. Over five starts, he pitched 23.2 innings with a 1.90 ERA while striking out 37. Opponents hit a measly .177 against him. The only weakness was that he issued 15 walks.
For his efforts, Cease earned Midwest League Pitcher of the Week after he no-hit Great Lakes for 6 innings and was named the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month.