Cody Ponce arrives at Blue Jays spring training with momentum from a stellar season in Korea. The pitcher could fill a key spot in Toronto's starting rotation. Manager John Schneider highlighted Ponce's potential to improve the staff's strikeout ability.
In Dunedin, Florida, Cody Ponce represents a significant variable for the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff during spring training. After posting a 5.86 ERA over 55 1/3 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020-21, Ponce found success abroad. In 2025, he pitched for the Hanwha Eagles in Korea, achieving a 1.89 ERA with 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings and earning the league's MVP award.
The Blue Jays' rotation features established arms like Kevin Gausman, in the final year of his contract, Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million deal, Trey Yesavage with high potential, and José Berríos providing reliability. Shane Bieber rounds out the group. Last season, the rotation's 4.34 ERA ranked 20th in baseball. Performances from Max Scherzer (5.19 ERA in 17 starts) and Bowden Francis (6.05 ERA in 14 starts) left room for upgrades, a role Ponce is positioned to address.
"We did some really good things last year, obviously, but we’re always looking at ways to get better," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "How can you improve a starting staff that can miss more bats? That’s where Dylan, Cody and Trey come in."
Ponce expressed excitement about joining the team. "I’m very excited," he said. "I think that we have a great starting staff, great bullpen staff with [closer Jeff] Hoffman as the back-end guy, too. But I have a lot to learn."
In the clubhouse, Ponce sits among veterans, including Berríos to his right and Cease to his left, with Bieber and Gausman nearby. "They kind of have me surrounded by all of them," Ponce noted with a smile. He aims to learn from them and rediscover joy in the game, having found his "inner child" again.
If Ponce translates his Korean success to Major League Baseball, including his high strikeout rate above 10.0 K/9, the rotation could become one of the American League's best. Spring training offers a chance to envision this potential amid the unknowns of the season.