Toronto Blue Jays fans did a double-take during Tuesday's broadcast when a clean-shaven Dylan Cease appeared in the dugout without his signature gunslinger mustache. The injured starter, currently on the 10-day injured list with a mild hamstring strain, sparked a flurry of social media reactions and comparisons to celebrities.
Social Media Frenzy
Sportsnet reporter Hazel Mae posted a video on X with the caption, "Who do we have here?" The clip showed Cease looking unrecognizable, prompting fans to compare him to rock icon Geddy Lee, actor Tom Hiddleston, and Cillian Murphy. The play-by-play team also noticed, with Joe Siddall asking Dan Shulman, "Who's the new guy?"
Fan Reactions
Reactions were mixed. One user wrote, "Omg he looks like Geddy Lee! Put it back on!" Another joked, "Maybe it was his moustache that was injured!" referring to Cease's IL stint. A third suggested the new look could improve performance: "Aerodynamics obviously."
Injury Update
Cease was placed on the IL on Monday after leaving his Sunday start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning. He will miss at least two weeks, adding to the Blue Jays' rotation woes. The team is already without Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios for the season, while Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer remain on the IL. Prospect Ricky Tiedemann also dealt with elbow soreness in spring.
Cease's Performance
Despite a 3-3 record, Cease has been the Blue Jays' top player this season, leading the team with 1.9 wins above replacement (FanGraphs). He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a career-high 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. His absence is a significant blow to a struggling rotation.
Fans will have to wait until at least early June to see the new-look Cease back on the mound. Until then, the clean-shaven look remains a hot topic among Blue Jays faithful.
