The San Diego Padres made the postseason for the first time since 2022 after finishing the season with a record of 93-69 and coming in second place in the National League West.
Although the Padres had a strong first series of the playoffs, they lost to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
After a strong showing in 2024, the Padres have not made any acquisitions thus far in the offseason, but they do have one dominant starting pitcher on their roster.
Dylan Cease is the ace of the Padres starting rotation, and stats show just how dominant he was in 2024 with one of his pitches.
According to MLB Network on ‘X,’ Cease led the league in most swings and misses on a single pitch type with 313 swings and misses on his slider.
Dylan Cease’s slider is gross
(h/t @SlangsOnSports) pic.twitter.com/P6V0BXOSqc
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 19, 2025
Cease came into the league in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox where he played for five seasons before going to the Padres in 2024.
In 2024 with the Padres, Cease started 33 games and held a record of 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 189.1 innings pitched.
Cease’s slider had 70 more swings and misses than the next closest player who was Chris Sale’s slider.
While Cease’s slider was proven to be his most dominant pitch in 2024, he also possesses an above-average fastball, which can make him even tougher to hit for opposing batters.
The Padres will need Cease to be dominant again in 2025 if they want to compete with the Dodgers for a division title, which they haven’t won since 2006.
The post Stat Shows How Dylan Cease Dominated With 1 Pitch In 2024 appeared first on The Cold Wire.