English
EspañolDylan Cease‘s first appearance with the Toronto Blue Jays is in the books.
The veteran righty recorded five outs in a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in Dunedin, Fla.
He struck out three — including his first via challenge — while walking one and allowing a second-inning home run to Bryan De La Cruz, who ended Cease’s day with a 432-foot dinger to centre field.
Cease sat near 96 m.p.h. with his fastball while reaching 98 m.p.h. Two of his strikeout victims were star sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, both in the first inning.
The 30-year-old Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays in November, marking the team’s largest-ever free-agent commitment.
He spent last season with the San Diego Padres, recording a 4.55 ERA over 32 starts and 168 innings with 215 strikeouts.
For his career, Cease owns a 3.88 ERA over seven seasons with the Padres and Chicago White Sox.
The Blue Jays acquired the Milton, Ga., native in the off-season to add upside to a deep rotation that also could include Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce, Jose Berrios, Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer.
