Dylan Cease gets a jump on spring training, joins Toronto Blue Jays early

By Canadian Press on February 11, 2026.

DUNEDIN — Dylan Cease couldn’t wait to start with the Toronto Blue Jays, so he came to spring training camp nearly two weeks early.

Cease had already been a regular at the Blue Jays’ Player Development Complex for more than 10 days when Toronto officially opened its training camp to pitchers and catchers Wednesday. Cease signed a seven-year, US$210-million contract with the club Dec. 2 and wanted to get down to work as soon as possible.

“I wanted to get used to everything and meet everybody,” said Cease, standing outside the clubhouse at the sprawling facility. “So I like where I’m at and I feel good.”

The 30-year-old Cease has a 65-58 record with a 3.88 earned-run average and 1,231 strikeouts over seven major-league seasons with the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. He went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA for San Diego in 2025, striking out 215 while walking 71 in 168 innings.

As a major-league veteran, Cease knows exactly what he needs to do when he arrives at a spring-training camp.

“The biggest thing is just getting everything back and ready to be in game action,” he said. “Part of it’s just getting my body ready for higher intensity throwing, and then obviously from there, it’s getting all the shapes (of pitches) and the command and all that dialed in.”

Cease and Cody Ponce, another free-agent Toronto signed in the off-season, were the first two pitchers to arrive at camp. Ponce is a journeyman who posted a 17-1 record over 29 starts with the Hanwha Eagles. He also had 252 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA to win the most valuable player award in South Korea’s KBO League.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said they both fit right in.

“They spend a lot of time in my office and the coaches office already, and it’s nice to get that newness out of there, you know,” said Schneider. “Whenever you’re coming into a different organization, and expectations are high for both of them, obviously, I think the more you can get into a normal routine, the easier it is.

“It’s kind of what we expected out of them, too.”

The extra time could be helpful, too, as the World Baseball Classic will disrupt the normal flow of spring training. Seven players from the Blue Jays’ major-league team — including Toronto’s entire infield — will represent their countries in the international tournament in March.

That includes starting catcher Alejandro Kirk, who will play for Mexico at the WBC.

“Hopefully he gets to see me as much as he can before he goes,” Cease said of Kirk. “But he’s a talented player. I don’t think it’s going to be too big of an issue.

“Really, it’s just learning pitch sequencing and what my stuff does. I think from there, it’s not going to take too long.”

Schneider also wasn’t too concerned about Kirk developing a relationship with Cease or Ponce.

“I think these first few days are important. Kirk has been here for a while, which is nice, and a lot of the pitchers have been here,” said Schneider. “I think getting them on the same page, having (Kirk) catch them as much as we can without overdoing his normal build up.”

Superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., will play for the Dominican Republic, shortstop Andres Gimenez will represent Venezuela, infielder Leo Jimenez will suit up for Panama, utility man Ernie Clement joins the United States, and third baseman Kazuma Okamoto will take the field for Japan.

Okamoto, who also plays right field, signed a four-year $60-million deal with Toronto on Jan. 4 after spending his entire 10-year career with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Due to visa issues, he won’t be able to join the Blue Jays until Saturday at the earliest.

“He’ll be ready to go when we start full squad workouts,” said Schneider. “He wanted to get here earlier, to do what Dylan, what Cody, were doing, get acclimated and used to everything here, but this weekend is when we’re expecting to see him.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press