Ace Cease and closer Louis Varland named First Team All-MLB

Toronto’s Dylan Cease and Louis Varland were named to the All-MLB First Team, with the selections announced Wednesday night during The MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards in Las Vegas.

Cease, in his debut season with the Blue Jays, posted a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts across 169 innings. MLB’s release says a hamstring issue cost him two starts earlier in the year, and a separate shoulder issue shut him down in late September.

The left? right? (Cease is a right-hander) was described by MLB as dominant at his peaks, including carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Giants in July, and later striking out 12 Red Sox batters in a complete-game, one-hit performance.

Varland earned the First Team nod as the Blue Jays’ closer after taking over the role from Jeff Hoffman in late April. MLB’s release credits him with a 1.27 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 78 innings, along with 35 saves.

MLB’s First Team pitching staff also included Jacob Misiorowski of the World Series champion Brewers, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees, Chris Sale of the Braves, and Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies. In the First Team bullpen, Varland was joined by Mason Miller of the Padres, while the Second Team bullpen included Cade Smith of the Guardians and Bryan Baker of the Rays.