Cease was traded to the White Sox on Thursday as a part of the deal that sent Jose Quintana to the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Cease is one of two big names the White Sox are receiving in this deal, with outfielder Eloy Jimenez being the other one. At 21 years old, the right-handed pitcher was arguably the Cubs' top pitching prospect and has posted 74 strikeouts in 51.2 innings with Low-A South Bend this season.

Cease (ankle) gave up one run and struck out four across two innings in his return from the disabled list Sunday with Low-A South Bend.

EDGE Analysis

Cease landed on the disabled list in late May with a sprained ankle, but Sunday's performance seemed to quell any concerns of lingering effects. With Sunday's outing, the right-hander now has a 2.75 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 36 innings on the season. He'll continue to develop as a starter barring any extraneous circumstances.

Cease (ankle) could return to the mound as soon as next week, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease has been on the disabled list since mid-May after tweaking his ankle, but it seems as if the issue is nearly obsolete. Prior to getting hurt, the pitching prospect had struck out 54 batters in 34 innings of work.

Cease (ankle sprain) is on the 7-day DL with Low-A South Bend, but is healing more quickly than anticipated and is not expected to miss much time, Emily Waldon of 2080Baseball.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The hard-throwing righty is tied for second in the Midwest League with 54 strikeouts in 34 innings. Most importantly, his 12.9 percent walk rate is a career best mark, so it is encouraging to see his control is improving, even if the improvements are gradual.

Cease (ankle) announced that he's "okay" after leaving Thursday's outing in the second inning, Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Although it's early, Cease sounds optimistic that he avoided anything significant after tweaking his ankle covering third base. A more official announcement on Cease's injury figures to be made Friday. Cease had a 14.02 K/9 rate entering his most recent outing, notching 50 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.

Cease exited Thursday's outing with a lower body injury.

EDGE Analysis

The 21-year-old appeared to suffer the injury while covering third base and was ultimately removed from the contest. The severity of Cease's injury has yet to be disclosed, but as one of the Cubs' prized prospects, his status will be one to monitor. He owns a 2.23 ERA with a whopping 50 strikeouts in just 32.1 innings at Class-A South Bend this season.

Cease, 21 has a 1.00 ERA and 15:5 K:BB through nine innings for Low-A South Bend.

EDGE Analysis

Cease possesses a blazing fastball, but it will be the development and command of his secondary pitches that ultimately decide his fate. Still, thus far he's managing 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings during his brief tenure in the minors.

Cease said he wants to work on his changeup and breaking ball this season, the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease can touch 100 mph on the radar gun, but the development of reliable secondary pitches will be key in his rise through the minors. "I would like to see development in my changeup this year," Cease said. "I feel very good with my breaking ball right now. So with that one, it will be more of throwing one for a strike and then bounce it when I want to because I feel confident enough with the spin and depth. With the changeup, I'm still using that in the games and getting that feel." The 21-year-old is likely to begin the 2017 season with Low-A South Bend.

Cease is likely to begin the 2017 season with Single-A South Bend, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, tossed just 44.2 innings in 12 starts for short-season Eugene last year, so the Cubs will probably look to gradually ramp up the 21-year-old's workload in 2017. As is the case with many young pitching prospects, Cease needs to improve his control, but he is the organization's top pitching prospect and could develop into a frontline starter down the road.

Cease gave up one run and two hits - including a home run - in short-season Eugene's season opener Friday.

EDGE Analysis

He struck out two and walked one. A sixth-round draft pick in 2014, Cease has only made 12 appearances in the minors, mostly due to his 2014 Tommy John surgery. Cease is only 20 and had some control problems last year, so he has a long way to go, but he's a promising pitching prospect.