Cody

Ponce

The deal, agreed to nine days ago, is now official. It sounds like Ponce is pretty much guaranteed a rotation spot, which could get awkward unless José Berríos is traded. The former Brewers prospect is coming off one of the best seasons in KBO history, having gone 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA and a 252/41 K/BB in 180 2/3 innings for Hanwha. In a nice situation in Toronto, he’ll be worth trying late in mixed-league drafts.

Toronto continues to fortify its rotation shortly after inking Dylan Cease to a massive seven-year $210 million contract. The 31-year-old right-hander was one of the true X-factors on the open market this offseason after a remarkable run in Korea with the Hanwha Eagles, where he overhauled his arsenal, added velocity, and dominated to the tune of a microscopic 1.89 ERA and stellar 252/41 K/BB ratio across 180 2/3 innings over 29 starts last season. He’ll slot in as a back-end stabilizer for the Blue Jays behind Kevin Gausman, Cease, Shane Bieber and rookie sensation Trey Yesavage. From a fantasy standpoint, it’s a compelling landing spot — he has a relatively clear path to a rotation spot on a title contender and enough swing-and-miss ability to matter in deeper mixed leagues, even in the AL East’s unforgiving environments. He’s a late-round dart throw worth monitoring closely next spring.

Ponce is a big right-hander, listed at 6'6" and 255 pounds. He went 17-1 with Hanwha in the KBO while registering a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings. He spent the previous three seasons in Japan, and did not enjoy that level of success, but his velocity was up two mph on all of his pitches in Korea, which helped his breaking balls the most. He also added a splitter, which became his primary secondary. Given his lack of MLB success, Ponce will be a risky signing for any team this offseason.

The 31-year-old Ponce made just five MLB starts and threw 55.1 MLB innings before leaving the States in 2022 to play in Japan. He then went to play in the KBO in 2025, where he “remade his body,” which allowed him to gain three mph on his fastball. He also learned a splitter and won almost every major award in the league while posting a 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 252/41 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings in 29 starts for the Hanwha Eagles. He’ll be an intriguing name to watch this offseason.

The 31-year-old hurler won the pitching triple crown in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2025, posting a scintillating 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 252/41 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings in 29 starts for the Hanwha Eagles. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic has noted that the Giants are among the teams that are interested in the right-hander — who hasn’t pitched in a big league contest since 2021.

Ponce made 20 appearances (five starts) for the Pirates from 2020-2021 and has spent the last two seasons pitching for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds that Ponce will be signing a deal overseas in Japan. The 27-year-old right-hander registered a bloated 7.04 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 36/11 K/BB ratio across 38 1/3 innings (15 appearances, two starts) at the major-league level last season.

He’ll take the spot of Phil Evans on the active roster. Ponce holds a brutal 8.34 ERA over 22 2/3 innings in the majors this season.

Ponce has struggled to an 8.34 ERA in 22 2/3 innings of work this season with Pittsburgh.

Ponce has given up 12 runs in 9 2/3 innings this season coming into the night. There’s a good chance that he’ll move into the Pirates rotation soon, though he probably won’t be particularly effective.