Blue Jays’ pitcher Cody Ponce has unusual rehab training session

Cody Ponce has found an unusual training program as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury. And that program gives the Blue Jays pitcher a chance to rehab with family, too.

While he recovers, Ponce recently shared with 6ix Inning Stretch podcast that he's been throwing footballs to his brother-in-law, All-Pro tight end George Kittle of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He's also tossed a few passes to tight ends Mason Pline of the Kansas City Chiefs and Robert Tonyan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ponce is recovering from a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament, suffered during his first start of the 2026 season on March 30. In April he had surgery to repair the ACL, a ligament in the knee that connects the tibia to the femur. His season was declared over just a few days later, pitching fewer than three innings.

Ponce getting rehab work in with brother-in-law and All-Pro tight end

Ponce can throw footballs and perform upper body work, as he continues to rehab. Kittle, who himself is recovering from a major injury — a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the 49ers' Wild Card playoff win in Philadelphia in January — was working on route running with Ponce's help. They later hit the weight room together.

Ponce is married to Kittle's older sister Emma. Kittle, known to football fans as "The People's Tight End," was in Toronto in March to see Ponce make his first start of the season. It was also Ponce's first MLB start since 2021, after pitching four years in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and then in the Korean Baseball Organization. Ponce was named the KBO's 2025 MVP, then signed a three-year deal with Toronto.

Recovering from an ACL injury is usually a long, grueling process. So, working with another professional athlete is probably an advantage, even more so if it's family. The connection between Ponce and Kittle is fitting, and not just because they're related. It's no secret the Blue Jays have been bitten by the injury bug this season, especially in regard to the starting rotation. If there's one organization that understands what an excessive amount of injuries feels like, it's the 49ers.

San Francisco is already dealing with a host of injuries in training camp, and that includes head coach Kyle Shanahan, who's recovering from a concussion sustained in a car crash in July. The team has seen more than its fair share of seasons dominated by injuries since 2014, although Shanahan has said he's not concerned about injuries in camp.

Ponce is expected to be ready for spring training in 2027. Since Kevin Gausman was traded, and the contracts of Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are expiring at the end of the season, Ponce is expected to play a big role in the rotation.

So, let's just hope Ponce stays away from the substation.

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