Worrisome Cody Ponce pregame video hints Blue Jays injury predated awkward crash

Nobody liked what they saw on Monday night (Mar. 31) at Rogers Centre. Cody Ponce, in the middle of his first MLB start since 2021, had to be carted off the field in the third inning. He was attempting to make a play on a ball hit toward second base, but started limping and eventually fell to the turf in pain.

He was scheduled for an MRI later that night and reports suggested he was removed from the game due to right-knee discomfort. The news broke late on Tuesday afternoon that Ponce was diagnosed with a right ACL sprain. However, some fans online are suggesting that Ponce may have been hurt before the game even started, and the play in the third just completely aggravated the injury.

Was Ponce already hurt before the game started?

The speculation stems from this video from Sportsnet (see below) of Ponce making his way from the bullpen to the Blue Jays dugout before first pitch. Some observes are suggesting that it looks like Ponce might be limping in the video.

It's hard to make a definitive answer one way or the other. He is walking on turf and there are spots that could be slightly uneven as they try to mimic real grass as best they can. There are areas where players feet may sink slightly further into the turf than in other areas and that could be the cause for his slightly awkward walk.

Or he may have had a limp, but the Blue Jays, already thin on starting pitching, decided it wasn't that big of a deal and decided to let him pitch. That's purely speculation, but no doubt the warmup walk does seem a little bit off, but there was a moment in the game that may have even been more of a precursor.

A few pitches before the injury Ponce fell in the middle of his delivery on a pitch and stumbled off the mound. He got up and appeared to be ok, but just moments later was when he chased the ball toward second base and his night came to an end, and perhaps, his season as well.

Ponce was diagnosed with a right ACL sprain, and has been placed on the 15-day injured list. That type of sprain could take up to six months to heal, depending on the severity of the injury. And so with Ponce out, likely for the long-term, the Blue Jays will look to fill his spot in the rotation. Lazaro Estrada has been called up in the meantime. The 26-year-old from Cuba appeared in one game in with Triple-A Buffalo already this season, and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.