Daniel Robert Ponce de Leon (born January 16,1992),formerly known as Daniel Poncedeleon,is an American professional baseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Following the season,Ponce de Leon was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2013 MLB draft and the two parties had reached a deal. However,he failed his physical due to concerns about nerve placement in his elbow and did not sign. Ponce de Leon planned to return to Houston,but the NCAA ruled that he was ineligible to return. He then enrolled at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University.[5] In 14 starts,he was 9–2 with a 1.60 ERA,holding batters to a .196 batting average.[6]
On May 9,2017,while pitching against Víctor Caratini of the Iowa Cubs,Caratini hit a line drive that struck Ponce de Leon in the head.[9][10] He had emergency surgery[11] and remained in the hospital for three weeks after the incident.[12] He was cleared for baseball activities in August,[13] but did not return to baseball until spring training 2018.[14] He began 2018 with Memphis.
On June 11,2018,the Cardinals promoted Ponce de Leon to the major leagues.[15] In 12 games prior to his call-up,he was 5–2 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 2.41 ERA.[16] He did not make an appearance with St. Louis and was optioned to Memphis on June 15.[17] He was recalled again on July 23. He was 9–3 with a 2.15 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) with Memphis.[18] He made his major league debut that night as St. Louis's starting pitcher at Great American Ball Park versus the Cincinnati Reds. In his debut,Ponce de Leon threw seven no-hit innings in which he struck out three and walked three on 116 pitches.[19] He was optioned back to Memphis the next day,and recalled by St. Louis once again on July 27.[20] In total in 2018 for St. Louis,Ponce de Leon made 11 appearances,with four being starts,posting a 0–2 record with a 2.73 ERA in 33 innings pitched.[21]
Ponce de Leon began the 2019 season in Memphis,but was recalled to St. Louis multiple different times before he was called up for the remainder of the year on September 1. Through 48+2⁄3 innings pitched with St. Louis during the regular season, he went 1–2 with a 3.70 ERA, striking out 52.[22] In a shortened 2020 season, he pitched to a 1–3 record with a 4.96 ERA and 45 strikeouts over nine games (eight starts) and 32+2⁄3 innings.
Ponce de Leon made 24 appearances with St. Louis in 2021, going 1–1 with a 6.21 ERA and 24 strikeouts. On September 20, 2021, the Cardinals designated Ponce de Leon for assignment.[23] He was subsequently outrighted to the Memphis Redbirds.[24] The following day, the Cardinals released him.[25]
Los Angeles Angels
On January 25, 2022, Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[26] Ponce de Leon was released by the Angels organization on April 4.[27]
Seattle Mariners
On April 9, 2022, Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[28] He started 16 games for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, struggling to a 5–8 record and 7.95 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 71+1⁄3 innings pitched. The Mariners released him on July 20.[29]
Washington Nationals
On July 22, 2022, Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[30] He started seven games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, working to a 1–3 record and 5.65 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 28+2⁄3 innings of work. He was released on September 5.
Detroit Tigers
On September 9, 2022, Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and assigned to the Toledo Mud Hens.[31] In three starts for Toledo, he registered a pristine 3–0 record and 1.69 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[32]
Chicago White Sox
On April 12, 2023, Ponce de Leon signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[33] He made 8 appearances (7 starts) for the Triple–A Charlotte Knights, but struggled to a 1–4 record and 9.99 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 24+1⁄3 innings pitched. Ponce de Leon was released by the White Sox organization on June 8.[34]
Diablos Rojos del México
On June 20, 2023, Ponce de Leon signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[35] In six starts with the club, he worked to a 5.81 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 26+1⁄3 innings pitched.
In 16 games (nine starts) for the Diablos in 2024, Ponce de Leon compiled a 4–2 record and 4.04 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 42+1⁄3 innings pitched. With the team, he won the Serie del Rey.[36] Ponce de Leon became a free agent following the season.
Personal life
Ponce de Leon was born in Anaheim, California, on January 16, 1992, to Ramon and Mary Poncedeleon. He has three sisters.[37]
He married Jennifer Beatty in February 2018.[37][38] The couple met while attending Embry–Riddle University.[39] The couple's first child, a son, was born in November 2016.[40] Their second child, a daughter, was born in February 2021.[41]
His surname was originally spelled as one word, Poncedeleon, but he legally changed the spelling to three words, Ponce de Leon, in 2018.[39][42][43]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
