
Cody Ponce
31-Year-Old
2025 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Ponce will be 32 in April and owns a 5.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 55.1 career MLB innings. He also signed a three-year, $30 million contract in December and appears set to start for a Blue Jays team that just went to the World Series. The bridge that connects those two seemingly contradictory facts is that he spent the last four years pitching overseas, though it took him some time to figure things out. From 2022 to 2024, he pitched in Japan, struggling to a 4.54 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 202 NPB innings while often spending time in the minors. But in 2025, he dropped down another level to the KBO and dominated across 29 starts for the Hanwha Eagles. His 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 36.2 K% all led the league, while his 5.9 BB% was strong as well. Backing that sudden improvement was an additional two ticks of velocity on his fastball and a better splitter. It was enough to convince the Blue Jays to take a chance, and it should be enough for fantasy managers in deep leagues to give him a late-round look, too. Read Past Outlooks
Returning to MLB
Ponce signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis
Ponce will return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2021 after playing three seasons in Japan, followed by one year in Korea. He was dominant this past season in the KBO, turning in a 1.89 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 180.2 innings and taking home the league's MVP award. He'll now join a Blue Jays squad that is putting a clear emphasis on adding rotation talent after also signing Dylan Cease earlier in the offseason.
Ponce will return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2021 after playing three seasons in Japan, followed by one year in Korea. He was dominant this past season in the KBO, turning in a 1.89 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 180.2 innings and taking home the league's MVP award. He'll now join a Blue Jays squad that is putting a clear emphasis on adding rotation talent after also signing Dylan Cease earlier in the offseason.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2017
2016
Ponce was used in two different roles during a hectic 2020 campaign, starting three games for the Pirates while coming out of the bullpen in his other two appearances. Though the sample size was small, he proved that he's capable of excelling in either role, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 12 punchouts over 17 frames. In his three starts, the 26-year-old surrendered just four earned runs over 13.2 innings, fanning nine over that stretch. Ponce also finished the year with an impressive .163 BABIP and a .200 batting average against. He continues to prove that he's a talented hurler, and while he's in the mix to compete for a job in the starting rotation to kick off the 2021 campaign, a spot on the Opening Day roster is not a guarantee at this point.
More Fantasy News
Heads to KBO
Ponce signed with the Hanwha Eagles on Thursday, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports.
Analysis
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Remaining in Japan
Ponce has signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Yahoo Japan reports.
Analysis
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Bound for Japan
Ponce was released Tuesday to sign with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Analysis
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Recalled by Pirates
Ponce was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis
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Optioned to Triple-A
Ponce was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might be Rangers target
Ponce might be a fit with the Rangers, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Analysis
President of baseball operations Chris Young has said he plans to add at least one starting pitcher, but Ponce might be out of the Rangers' price range after Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Monday that the righty is expected to net a contract of at least $30 million. Ponce had a dominant 2025 campaign with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, collecting a 1.89 ERA with a league-leading 252 strikeouts over 180.2 innings.
President of baseball operations Chris Young has said he plans to add at least one starting pitcher, but Ponce might be out of the Rangers' price range after Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Monday that the righty is expected to net a contract of at least $30 million. Ponce had a dominant 2025 campaign with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, collecting a 1.89 ERA with a league-leading 252 strikeouts over 180.2 innings.

