GOODYEAR, Ariz. — As first outings go, right-hander Dylan Cease couldn’t have been more pleased.
The White Sox’ highly regarded second-year starter who struggled for consistency while posting a 5.79 ERA in 14 starts as a rookie, Cease came to camp with a new emphasis on “not getting too rotational on my front side” to prevent his fastball from cutting too much. The results have been good on the back fields at Camelback Ranch, and they were equally pleasing to Cease in the Sox’ Cactus League opener against the Reds in Sunday.
Cease touched 99 mph multiple times, struck out three and walked no one in his scoreless two-inning start. He hit Jesse Winker with a pitch on the hand (Winker left the game but is OK) and allowed some solid contact, but considering Cease’s struggles — especially in the early innings — last season, there was nothing to not be happy about.
“I had better feel today than I did at any point last season,” Cease said. “As long as I can keep carrying that on, I’ll be happy.”
Cease liked the way he executed his curve, slider and changeup.
“Lot of fastballs for strikes, for the most part off speed for strikes, good shape on pitches, good changeups,” he said. “It was good.”
When it was suggested that he had already reached his top velocity, Cease replied, ‘We don’t know that’s top velo.”
It’s early, but Cease oozing confidence must be viewed as a good thing for the Sox.
“My arm feels great, my body feels great,” Cease said. “It was coming out good. I really couldn’t be happier with that outing.”
Colome wants more in 2020
Right-hander Alex Colome was pretty good in his first season as Sox closer. He wants to be better.
Colome collected 30 saves while posting a 2.80 ERA in 62 games covering 61 innings in 2019 he viewed as acceptable. He wants 2020 to improve from start to finish.
“It was good, not bad,” Colome said Saturday. “They gave me a lot of opportunities and I tried to do my best. But this year I can be better, the bullpen can be better, the team can be better.’’
Colome was better in the first half (2.02 ERA, .482 OPS against) than the second (3.91 ERA, .769 OPS against). But overall, he was reliable in save situations, converting 30 of 33 for a 90.9 percentage ranking second in the American League and fifth in Sox history.
“I’m preparing my mind to do better last year – better command, try to get more outs [in key situations],” Colome said.
Gio Gonzalez progressing
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez threw off flat ground, spinning come curveballs and letting go of some changeups, and threw long toss as he approaches his first scheduled bullpen session Thursday.
“All in all, it’s big-time progress to where I started to where I am now,” said Gonzalez, who has been “non-stop working” at getting his slightly sore shoulder ready for the season.
“There’s nothing going to keep me from being ready for Opening Day,” Gonzalez, 34, said. “I just got to keep working hard.”
