In 2017,Ponce played for both the Carolina Mudcats of the High-A Carolina League,and the Biloxi Shuckers of the Double-ASouthern League,[10] posted a combined 10–9 record with a 3.14 ERA over 25 starts.[11] He spent the 2018 season with Biloxi,going 7–6 with a 4.36 ERA in 29 games (11 starts). In 2019,he returned to Biloxi to begin the season.[12]
Ponce made his major league debut on August 2, 2020, against the Chicago Cubs and was the losing pitcher.[citation needed] He had an 0–6 record and a 7.04 ERA in 38+1⁄3 innings in 15 games for the Pirates in 2021, while spending the rest of the season with Indianapolis. After the 2021 season, on November 29, 2021, the Pirates released Ponce to allow him to play in Japan.[17]
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
On December 5, 2021, Ponce signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[18] On August 27, 2022, Ponce pitched a no-hitter against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Sapporo Dome, making himself the seventh foreign-born player to achieve it after the NPB introduced the 2-league system when it was reorganized from the JBL in the 1950 season.[19] He finished the year appearing in 14 games, logging a 3–5 record and 3.35 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 83+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On April 5, 2023, Ponce was diagnosed with a partially torn quadriceps tendon in his left leg that would sideline him for 4 weeks.[20] In 10 games for the team, he registered a 4–5 record and 3.66 ERA with 43 strikeouts across 51+2⁄3 innings. On November 27, it was announced that Ponce and the Fighters could not reach a contract agreement, making him a free agent.[21]
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
On December 26, 2023, Ponce signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.[22] He made 15 appearances for the Eagles in 2024, struggling to a 3–6 record and 6.72 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 67 innings pitched. On December 2, 2024, the Eagles announced that Ponce would not be brought back in 2025, making him a free agent.[23]
Hanwha Eagles
On December 12, 2024, Ponce signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League.[24] Ponce was named the KBO League's MVP of the Month for March–April 2025.[25]
On May 17, 2025, Ponce set a new KBO record with 18 strikeouts in a regulation nine-inning game, the first matchup of a doubleheader against SSG Landers in Daejeon. He surpassed Ryu Hyun-jin's previous mark of 17 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, set on May 11, 2010. On September 3, Ponce recorded a season total of 228 strikeouts, surpassing Ariel Miranda's 225 to set a new KBO League single-season strikeout record.[26]
The 2025 Eagles finished the KBO regular season in second place, behind the LG Twins. Facing the Samsung Lions in the playoff round, Ponce started Game 1 on October 18, striking out 8 batters and handing the lead to the bullpen en route to a victory in the team's first playoff game since 2018. In the winner-take-all fifth game on October 24, Ponce neutralized the Lions across five innings, striking out nine while allowing only one unearned run, despite being hit on the chest with a sharp line drive off the bat of Lewin Díaz in the third inning. Entering in relief, stablemate Ryan Weiss completed the final four innings to send the Eagles to the Korean Series as Ponce became the winning pitcher in the decisive game.
On October 29, with the Twins up 2–0 in the series, Ponce started Game 3 of the Korean Series in Daejeon. He delivered a six-inning quality start, and the Eagles defeated the Twins' bullpen to earn their first win in a Korean Series game since 2006. Despite strong performances in Daejeon by Ponce and Weiss, the Eagles ultimately lost the series 4–1. Due to his performance during the regular season, Ponce was unanimously awarded the Choi Dong-won Award.[27][28]
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