TORONTO -- Cody Ponce left his Blue Jays debut on a medical cart on Monday night at Rogers Centre, a difficult scene to end his first Major League appearance since 2021.
The Blue Jays soon announced an initial diagnosis of “right knee discomfort” for Ponce, but we expect to learn more after he undergoes all necessary tests.
Ponce was running toward first base to field a ground ball off the bat of the Rockies’ Jake McCarthy in the third inning, when he reached down and bobbled his first play on the ball. As he tried to adjust his body to scoop up the ball again, he pulled up in pain, grabbing the back of his right leg, and went down on the infield dirt.
The Blue Jays’ medical staff raced out to Ponce, followed by manager John Schneider, and the cart was quickly called to assist him off the field. Ponce was still in clear pain as the staff helped him to his feet and moved him over to the cart.
It’s a tough scene to witness for any player, but particularly Ponce, who spent three seasons in Japan and one in Korea reinventing himself as a pitcher to make his return to Major League Baseball. Ponce had a fantastic 2025 season in the KBO, posting a 1.89 ERA with 252 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings, which earned him a three-year, $30 million deal with the Blue Jays.