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Ponce allowed one hit over 5.2 scoreless innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out five without walking a batter.
Facing a split-squad lineup of bench players and minor leaguers, Ponce fired 44 of 65 pitches for strikes while topping out at 96.3 mph with his four-seam fastball. The right-hander has a 0.66 ERA this spring over 13.2 innings with a 12:4 K:BB and zero homers allowed, and Ponce's importance to the Blue Jays' rotation has only grown since he was signed in December, with Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to open the season on the IL.
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.
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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