Blue Jays’ Cease Impresses in Spring Debut, Berrios Shows Promise
Dylan Cease, the Blue Jays’ highly touted offseason acquisition, made his spring training debut Saturday against the Phillies, showcasing both his electric stuff and a glimpse of the adjustments he’ll build this season. Even as allowing a solo home run to Bryan De La Cruz, Cease struck out three batters – including Phillies stars Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber – in just 1 2/3 innings pitched. He threw 33 pitches, with 23 going for strikes.
Cease’s Transition to Toronto
The Blue Jays invested heavily in Cease, signing him to a seven-year, $210 million contract. He previously spent two seasons with the San Diego Padres, posting an 8-12 record with a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. Before that, Cease spent five seasons with the Chicago White Sox, where he consistently demonstrated a high strikeout rate, peaking with 227 strikeouts in 32 starts in 2022, finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
His ability to rack up strikeouts – he’s reached 200+ strikeouts in five consecutive seasons – is a key reason the Blue Jays are optimistic about his potential to anchor their rotation. Saturday’s debut offered a taste of that power, despite the solo homer.
Berrios Bounces Back
On the other side of the field, Blue Jays right-hander José Berrios delivered a strong performance against the Yankees, throwing four scoreless innings. He didn’t allow a single hit, walking two and striking out two. This outing is a positive sign for Berrios, who is looking to rebound after a 2025 season cut short by an elbow injury.
Berrios had a 4.17 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) for Toronto last season. He allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings during his first spring training start earlier in the week.
Other Notable Performances
The Blue Jays ultimately won their spring training game against the Phillies 7-5. George Springer contributed with two hits and a run scored. However, Connor Seabold struggled, allowing three earned runs and four hits in just one and one-third innings.
Elsewhere, Canadian Abraham Toro had a hit in three at-bats for the Kansas City Royals in their win over the Colorado Rockies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many strikeouts did Dylan Cease record in his debut?
A: Dylan Cease recorded 3 strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
Q: What is the length of Dylan Cease’s contract with the Blue Jays?
A: Dylan Cease signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jays.
Q: How did José Berrios perform against the Yankees?
A: José Berrios threw four scoreless innings, allowing no hits.
Q: What was the final score of the Blue Jays vs. Phillies game?
A: The Blue Jays won 7-5.
Pro Tip: Spring training stats should be viewed as a starting point, not a definitive indicator of regular season performance. Focus on observing pitchers’ mechanics and hitters’ approaches at the plate.
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