The Chicago Cubs selected Cease in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft and traded him to the White Sox in 2017.

Prior to the 2024 season, the White Sox traded Cease to the Padres, where he threw a no-hitter on July 25 against the Washington Nationals.

[4] In 2013, his junior year, he was 9–0 with an 0.81 earned run average (ERA) in 69+1⁄3 innings pitched with 100 strikeouts, and Milton won the state championship in baseball.

[5] Cease also appeared in a second straight state championship series, but lost to Lambert High School.

[1] At the end of the 2015 season, Baseball America rated Cease as the second-best prospect in the Arizona League.

[15] On July 13, 2017, the Cubs traded Cease, Eloy Jiménez, Matt Rose, and Bryant Flete to the Chicago White Sox for José Quintana.

Cease went 3-for-3 at the plate and pitched six scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out 11, as the White Sox won 9–0.

[32][1] Cease made his first career postseason start in Game 3 of the 2021 ALDS against the Houston Astros, only lasting 1.2 innings and giving up three runs while striking out two batters in the White Sox' 12–6 win.

[33] Cease was also named the July AL Pitcher of the Month after pitching to a 5-1 record and a 0.76 ERA with 40 strikeouts in six starts in 35+2⁄3 innings.

[34] On September 3, Cease carried a no-hitter through 8+2⁄3 innings against the Minnesota Twins before second baseman Luis Arráez hit a line drive single into right-center field.

[38] Cease was second in the voting for the Cy Young Award behind Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros, and was named to the All-MLB Second Team.

[39][32] On January 13, 2023, Cease agreed to a one-year, $5.7 million contract with the White Sox, avoiding salary arbitration.

[44] On March 13, 2024, the White Sox traded Cease to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Steven Wilson, Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, and Samuel Zavala.

[46] Cease has a twin brother, Alec, who also played on the Milton High School team as a catcher and third baseman.