Dylan Cease, Jeimer Candelario Named Minor League Pitcher, Player of the Month
It’s hard to imagine a team as young and talented as the Chicago Cubs could possibly have even more talent waiting in the wings at the minor league level. Well, that’s the case and if you don’t believe it, I have proof for you.
Jeimer Candelario was just named Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Month and Dylan Cease was named Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April.
Congratulations, @IowaCubs IF @jeimer24C and @SBCubs RHP @DylanCease for being named minor league player and pitcher of the month for April! pic.twitter.com/YRGk24CvUr
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 5, 2017
It’s quite a feat for both players.
Candelario slashed an impressive .306/.432/.625 with 15 runs, 18 RBI and four home runs in the month of April while playing at Triple-A Iowa.
Dylan Cease, who plays for the South Bend Cubs, had a 1.92 ERA over 23.2 innings pitched. He allowed only 14 hits while striking out 37 and walking just 15 batters.
Candelario continues to rake at Triple-A but there is no place for him on the big league roster, where it just so happens the MVP is locked in. With Kris Bryant locked at third base and Javy Baez a steady replacement, if needed, it makes more sense to keep Candelario getting regular at-bats in Triple-A then sitting on the bench in Chicago.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that the Cubs trade Candelario, but unless they find the right deal it doesn’t appear that there’s any real need or desire to hastily move him without a solid return.
Cease, is the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, but he’s at least a year away from the big leagues. He also continues to struggle with his control, issuing 5.7 BB/9 so far in 2017. That has always been an issue with Cease but he’s been able to counter that with a high 14.07 K/9. As he progresses through the system, he’ll need to figure out a way to gain more control. If he can do that the sky is the limit.