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Ponce allowed one run on four hits over two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The right-hander built up to 32 pitches (18 strikes) against a Boston lineup that consisted of prospects and big-league depth players. Ponce has looked good so far this spring as he gets ready to pitch in MLB for the first time since 2021, posting a 4:0 K:BB through his first two appearances and three innings.
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Blue Jays' Cody Ponce: Perfect inning in spring debut
Rotowire
Ponce struck out two in a perfect inning during the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League game against the Tigers on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old right-hander fired 16 of 22 pitches for strikes in his spring debut, getting Parker Meadows to swing through a cutter before fooling top prospect Kevin McGonigle with the kick-change that helped him turn his career around overseas. Ponce won the KBO's MVP Award in 2025 with the Hanwha Eagles on the strength of a 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 252:41 K:BB over 180.2 innings, a performance that netted him a three-year, $30 million deal from Toronto this offseason. He's being counted on to fill a mid-rotation spot in his return to MLB, and the kick-change may give him more strikeout upside than projected against big-league hitters.
Ponce signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Ponce will return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2021 after playing three seasons in Japan, followed by one year in Korea. He was dominant this past season in the KBO, turning in a 1.89 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 180.2 innings and taking home the league's MVP award. He'll now join a Blue Jays squad that is putting a clear emphasis on adding rotation talent after also signing Dylan Cease earlier in the offseason.
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Cody Ponce: Heads to KBO
Rotowire
Ponce signed with the Hanwha Eagles on Thursday, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports.
Ponce has pitched in Japan for the last three seasons, working exclusively out of the bullpen. He should be projected to maintain a similar role with the Eagles.
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Cody Ponce: Remaining in Japan
Rotowire
Ponce has signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Yahoo Japan reports.
Ponce had spent the previous two seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, collecting a 3.70 ERA and 135:45 K:BB across 172.2 frames. The 29-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2021.
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Cody Ponce: Bound for Japan
Rotowire
Ponce was released Tuesday to sign with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Ponce is still just 27 years old, so it's possible he has success overseas and returns stateside in a few years as a more interesting pitcher. He hasn't shown much thus far in 55.1 innings at the highest level, striking out a modest 19.6 percent of opposing batters en route to a 5.86 ERA.
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Pirates' Cody Ponce: Recalled by Pirates
Rotowire
Ponce was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Ponce was sent down in mid-August, and he made four appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis since then. He posted a 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in eight innings during that time, and he'll be available as a low-leverage reliever with the major-league club.
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Pirates' Cody Ponce: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Ponce was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Ponce made five appearances after he was called up by the Pirates in late July, and he posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 13 innings during that time. He was also charged with his third loss of the season Tuesday and will now head back to the minors.
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Pirates' Cody Ponce: Struggles in relief
Rotowire
Ponce (0-3) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Dodgers after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while fanning two across two innings.
Ponce entered the contest in the fifth inning but wasn't effective, and as a result, he picked up his third loss of the campaign. The right-hander has given up runs in all but two of his outings this season and has allowed at least two runs in three of his last four appearances. Those struggles translate to a ballooned 8.34 ERA across 22.2 innings on the year.
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Pirates' Cody Ponce: Mops up in blowout loss
Rotowire
Ponce tossed five scoreless frames in long relief in Tuesday's 9-0 loss to the Brewers, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out five.
Though Luis Oviedo picked up the start when Tyler Anderson was scratched ahead of the contest and later traded to the Mariners, Ponce essentially stepped into the rotation in Anderson's stead. Unfortunately, with Oviedo putting the Pirates in an 8-0 hole after two innings, Ponce's excellent outing was wasted. The Pirates could still elect to option Ponce to Triple-A Indianapolis in order to get a fresh arm for the bullpen heading into the weekend, but the right-hander put himself in good position to re-enter the rotation the next time a fifth starter is needed.
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Pirates' Cody Ponce: Recalled from minors
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Ponce from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The righty has appeared in three minor-league games since being optioned July 4, allowing six runs and striking out 11 batters in 13 innings. He most recently pitched six innings July 22, so he could be a candidate to start Tuesday's game for the Pirates after Tyler Anderson was scratched.
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