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Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease nominated for MLBPA’s outstanding pitcher award
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Oct 15, 2026, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 14, 2026, 21:47 EDT
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Dylan Cease’s 2026 greatness has been recognized among his peers. 
On Wednesday, Cease was recognized as one of three American League finalists for outstanding pitcher in Major League Baseball Players Association’s Players Choice Awards. Cease was nominated alongside New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler and Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray. 
Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays to a seven-year, $210-million contract on December 2, 2025, Cease did nothing but impress in his first season north of the border. Cease made 29 starts and went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. 
Cease struck out 239 batters – tied for third-most with Schlittler in Major League Baseball – and held opponents to a sparkling .180 average. The only pitcher in the majors who beat Cease’s mark of .180 was Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who held opponents to a .157 average. 
The 30-year-old’s best month of the season came during July, when the right-hander made five starts and went 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 0.72 WHIP. Cease threw 36 innings and, during that span, struck out 46 batters and held opponents to a .125 average. 
Cease spent the month flirting with no-hitters, as on July 8, during a 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, the right-hander was three outs away from history before outfielder Heliot Ramos opened the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single. 
Two starts later, on July 25, Cease turned in a pitching line of 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 12 K during a 6-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. Cease threw 120 pitches in the outing, in what could be one of MLB’s best pitching performances of the 2026 campaign. 
Unfortunately for Cease, he appeared to run out of gas in September. Following a start against the Texas Rangers on September 18, in which Cease allowed four runs (one earned) across 2.2 innings, it was announced he would head for imaging on his right shoulder. Five days later, Cease was placed on the 15-day injured list, ultimately ending his season. 
With no structural damage, Cease is expected to enter spring training healthy as he prepares for his second season with the Blue Jays. 

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