Cody Ponce

Last updated

62+13 innings.

After the season, Ponce was selected for the United States national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier 12. [14] In the tournament he was 1–1 with a 2.03 ERA in three starts covering 13+13 innings. [15] He was also added to the Pirates 40-man roster. [16]

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+13 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+13 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+23 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]

Personal

Ponce is married to George Kittle's sister Emma, making the two brothers–in–law. [25] [26] [27]

References

  1. "Former Pirate Cody Ponce digs deep in Japan no-hitter".
  2. "Cal Poly Pomona's Cody Ponce leads Broncos into NCAA Division II Regionals". dailybulletin.com. May 14, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. "#42 Cody Ponce – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  4. Todd Rosiak. "What the Brewers are saying about their draft picks". jsonline.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. Tom Haudricourt. "Notes – Brewers draft picks get royal treatment". jsonline.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  6. Fox Sports (June 15, 2015). "Milwaukee Brewers sign three MLB draft picks". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  7. Froberg, Tim (August 2, 2015). "Timber Rattlers' Ponce has tools to make it big". Appleton Post-Crescent . Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. McCalvy, Adam (January 20, 2016). "Cody Ponce placed on disabled list | MLB.com". MLB.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  9. "Brewers vs. Athletics: Wednesday game report". Jsonline.com. June 8, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  10. "Shuckers' Ponce tosses gem in Double-A debut". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  11. "Cody Ponce Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  12. "Cody Ponce Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  13. Jason Mackey (July 29, 2019). "Pirates trade Jordan Lyles to Brewers for reliever Cody Ponce". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  14. Kyle Glaser (October 25, 2019). "Bobby Dalbec Brings The Power For Team USA" . Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  15. "II Premier12 2019 – the official site – WBSC". Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  16. Adam Berry (November 20, 2019). "Bucs add top prospects Hayes, Cruz to 40-man". MLB.com . Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  17. "Pirates release RHP Cody Ponce, who will sign to play in Japan". November 30, 2021.
  18. "Cody Ponce: Bound for Japan". November 30, 2021.
  19. "Baseball: Fighters' Cody Ponce throws NPB season's 5th no-hitter". Mainichi Daily News . August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  20. "Yahoo News Japan". Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  21. @npb_reddit (November 27, 2023). "The Nippon-Ham Fighters and pitcher Cody Ponce could not reach an agreement on a new contract, so the club won't be bringing him back for 2024" (Tweet) via Twitter.[ user-generated source ]
  22. "NPB's Rakuten Golden Eagles Sign Cody Ponce". MLB Trade Rumors. December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  23. "[Rakuten] Song Jiahao, Nick Turley, Michael Franco also signed next season Song "The goal next season is the best in Japan"". news.yahoo.co.jp=en. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  24. https://x.com/hoodi_thespace/status/1867436735153811730
  25. "Instagram".
  26. "Instagram".
  27. "Instagram".
Cody Ponce
Cody Joe Ponce Eagles 20240409.jpg
Ponce with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2024
Hanwha Eagles – No. 30
Pitcher
Born: (1994-04-25) April 25, 1994 (age 30)
Pomona, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 2, 2020, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
NPB: April 20, 2022, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
KBO: March 22, 2025, for the Hanwha Eagles