Cody Ponce (32), the former Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Most Valuable Player who led the Hanwha Eagles to the Korean Series last season, left his first Major League Baseball (MLB) game in five years early due to injury.
Ponce took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays in their 2026 MLB regular-season home game against the Colorado Rockies at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday (Korea time). He allowed one hit, one walk and one earned run over 2⅓ innings before being removed due to injury. He recorded three strikeouts.
Ponce attacked the Colorado lineup with a four-seam fastball topping out at 156.2 km/h (97.1 mph), along with a splitter, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup.
After retiring the side in order in the top of the first inning, Ponce gave up a double to TJ Rumfield with one out in the second but got the next two batters on a swinging strikeout and a flyout to right field. In the third inning, he walked leadoff hitter Kyle Karros on a six-pitch at-bat.
Ponce then struck out Eduard Julien swinging, but the pitch got past the catcher, allowing the runner to advance to second base. A balk was then called, putting the runner on third with one out.
Ponce tried to field Jake McCarthy's ground ball back to the mound but bobbled it. He collapsed on the field, clutching his right knee in pain. McCarthy reached first base while the runner on third scored.
Ponce stood up on his own without assistance from the medical staff and left the field on the team cart. Toronto, trailing 1-2 through five innings, ultimately lost 5-14.
Ponce won the KBO MVP award last season after posting a 17-1 record with 252 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA. He then signed a three-year, $30 million (approximately 45.8 billion won) contract with Toronto.
During spring training, Ponce made five starts over 13⅔ innings, allowing seven hits and four walks while recording 12 strikeouts with a 0.66 ERA, earning the No. 4 spot in Toronto's starting rotation.