Cease retired the first 20 batters faced before allowing a hit in the seventh inning for Double-A Birmingham on Wednesday. He allowed the one hit and a walk while striking out 12 over seven innings.

EDGE Analysis

Cease has handled his promotion to Double-A with aplomb, posting a .283 ERA while limiting opponents to a .188 batting average over his first five starts at the advanced level.

Cease was promoted to Double-A Birmingham on Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease met little resistance in his first taste of High-A ball, going 9-2 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 82:28 K:BB across 13 starts (71.2 innings) before being rewarded with a promotion. The 22-year-old right-hander will look to carry his success to Double-A, but more importantly he'll look to stay healthy as he's never logged more than 100 innings in a season as a pro -- topping out at 93.1 frames in 2017.

Cease tossed seven shutout innings while striking out 12 Tuesday for High-A Winston-Salem against Lynchburg. He allowed two hits and zero walks.

EDGE Analysis

At one point in the 22-year-old righty's career outing he retired 19 batters in a row. Cease now ranks eighth among all minor-league pitchers with 36 strikeouts over 26.1 innings this season. He consistently threw his mid-90s fastball in this outing, reportedly touching 100 mph on the ballpark's radar gun, which is not a new development for the fireballer. Cease also credited mixing in his changeup in this one to keep hitters off his fastball, MiLB.com's Andrew Battifarano reports. The number one statistic to keep an eye on with Cease in 2018 is innings pitched. He has never topped 100 innings in a season as a pro (career-high 93.1 innings last year) and will need to start eclipsing that mark if he wants to shed the future reliever label.

Cease was assigned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease's stay in major-league camp ceased, but but not before he made an impression on the decision makers. "His release, everything he does, seems to point toward a young man who has everything ahead of him and the possibility of making an impact in multiple ways," manager Rick Renteria said. Cease, who was acquired from the Cubs last year in the Jose Quintana trade, allowed one earned run and struck out nine over 6.1 innings. The right-hander is expected to start the season at High-A Winston-Salem.

Cease allowed one hit and two walks while striking out four over two innings in Monday's game against the Athletics, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease is "the other guy" acquired in the Jose Quintana trade, which also netted the White Sox the more heralded Eloy Jimenez. With Jimenez sidelined by a sore knee, it's Cease taking on a higher profile this spring. He hasn't allowed a run in 3.1 innings while striking out five. On Monday, he threw his fastball (95 to 98 mph), curveball and mixed in a developing changeup and slider. The White Sox view him as a starter, but they understand his current repertoire can play out of the bullpen. Cease figures to open the 2018 season at High-A Winston-Salem.

Cease (shoulder) tossed 1.1 frames in his spring debut Wednesday. He allowed a hit and struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

The pitching prospect was shut down at the tail-end of last season due to shoulder fatigue, but it doesn't seem like those issues have cropped up this spring. Better yet, Cease's stuff seemed to be fully back, as his fastball was recorded to be as fast as 98 miles per hour. Cease hasn't pitched an inning above Class-A ball, so he's still a ways away from the majors, but the future is bright for him if he can continue to post gaudy strikeout numbers like he did last season (126 punch-outs in 93.1 innings last season).

Cease (shoulder) was seen throwing breaking balls Tuesday, James Fegan of The Athletic Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

No word has come forth as to whether he's been able to throw off a mound yet, but this is an encouraging development nonetheless. Cease is expected to be fine for the bulk of spring training, but things should become clearer once he proves he can clear the final hurdle in his recovery process.

Cease (shoulder) has been invited to the White Sox's major-league camp this spring, James Fegan of The Athletic Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease will join a slew of other top prospects at Chicago's big league camp, including Michael Kopech and Luis Robert, among others, as the White Sox look to get a better feel for their top young talent. The electric righty spent all of 2017 at Low-A, split between Kannapolis and South Bend, compiling a 3.28 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 93.1 innings before being shut down in September with shoulder fatigue. He's expected to be healthy heading into spring, but given Cease is entering his age-22 season and hasn't pitched above Low-A, he'll likely remain in the lower minors to open the 2018 campaign.

Cease was scratched from his playoff start for Low-A Kannapolis on Tuesday due to shoulder fatigue, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

This move is supposedly just a precaution, and Cease is expected to participate in the instructional league. If he can indeed report to camp next year without any arm injuries, then 2017 will be seen as a huge success for the hard-throwing righty, who was the second returning prospect in the trade that sent Jose Quintana to the Cubs. Cease has a 3.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 93.1 innings across the two Low-A affiliates. Sadly, those 93.1 innings easily establish a new season high for the 21-year-old.

Cease, 21, has a 4.29 ERA and 49:17 K:BB in 35.2 innings at Low-A Kannapolis since being traded to the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Do not let the 0-7 record fool you; Cease has loads of potential, as evidenced by his standout strikeout rate. On the season, he has a 123:43 K:BB in just 87.1 innings. A few less walks would be nice, but Cease is still just scratching the surface of his potential. He is a serious breakout candidate for next season.