Cease is likely to begin the 2017 season with Low-A South Bend, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Cease, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, tossed just 44.2 innings in 12 starts for short-season Eugene last year, so the Cubs will probably look to gradually ramp up the 21-year-old's workload in 2017. As is the case with many young pitching prospects, Cease needs to improve his control, but he is the organization's top pitching prospect and could develop into a frontline starter down the road.