There's a slim thread of hope for Blue Jays to hold onto in devastating Ponce injury

Just three innings into his return to Major League Baseball and Cody Ponce may have thrown his last pitch in the big leagues this season. The MVP of the KBO in 2025 was returning to MLB for the first time since 2021 and just as his debut for the Toronto Blue Jays was getting going, it was cut short after an awkward play in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. That's when Ponce chased a ground ball toward second base and in the process, ended up hurting his knee, before falling to the ground in pain.

Ponce was carted off the field, underwent an MRI and late on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 31) the results revealed a right ACL sprain that will force Ponce to miss significant time. However, there is a small bit of hope that the Blue Jays are holding onto that Ponce can come back later this year.

Cody Ponce injury could keep him out for the season

Manager John Schneider spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said that more doctors are reviewing the MRI to see if it's a full tear or just a sprain. He added that the Blue Jays are holding onto the hope that he can come back some time before the 2026 season ends. However, he's expected to miss some significant time regardless of the final diagnoses.

It's a gut wrenching result for Ponce who was quickly becoming a fan favourite. When he was signed this past offseason, he immediately won fans over with his charming personality, his self-professed "nerdom" over Star Wars, and his touching tribute to his mother during his record setting 18-strikeout game with the Hanwah Eagles.

It's one thing to like a guy for his qualities of the field, it's another to see that player also succeed on the field and in Spring Training, Ponce showcased that he was on track to backing up his numbers from the Pacific Rim. He pitched 13.2 innings of Grapefruit League action and accurmulated a .206 BABIP against with an 0.66 ERA, striking out 12 batters and alloweing one earned run on seven hits.

He rightfully earned a spot in the Blue Jays rotation coming out of camp and there was quite a bit of anticipation surrounding just how much Ponce could contribute to the Blue Jays success this season. And through the first two innings of the game against the Rockies, Ponce looked like he came as advertised, striking out three hitters and allowing one hit, before the fateful play in the third.

Ponce is now on the 15-day IL and Lazaro Estrada has been called up. Long time Blue Jays fans may recall the miraculous recovery of starting pitcher Marcus Stroman who tore his ACL in Spring Training in 2015 only to return to the team at the end of September and helping them win the AL East title that year. If there's any hope to hold onto for Ponce pitching again in 2026, it might be that of the former Blue Jays star pitcher.