The injury bug is getting to the Blue Jays early this season.
Free agent addition Cody Ponce was diagnosed with a right ACL sprain, according to MLB.com, and doctors are checking his MRI to find out if he suffered a full tear.
Ponce, 31, suffered the leg injury running to field a ground ball during the third inning of the Blue Jays’ loss to the Rockies at Rogers Centre on Monday.
He had tossed 2 ⅓ scoreless innings before that fateful play.
The right-hander stood up and walked to a cart, and he was driven off the field.
Ponce became visibly emotional as he left the diamond, blowing kisses and lifting his cap to the Blue Jays crowd.
It was his first start in the big leagues in five years after flaming out following a disastrous 2021 season, during which he posted a 7.04 ERA across 38 ⅓ innings.
Toronto manager John Schneider said the team is “holding onto” hope that he can take the mound again in 2026, although he’s expected to miss extended time.
“I talked to him for a while last night, up until about 1 in the morning,” Schneider said. “He’s got a pretty good perspective. He’s frustrated, for sure, but I think he has a good perspective on it. The person in me just hates it for him. His first outing, weird play, all of that. But he’s handling it OK. He was in here with his brother-in-law today, George Kittle.”
Ponce parlayed a strong 2025 KBO season into a three-year, $30 million deal with Toronto.
He had spent the three previous seasons pitching in Japan.
Ponce’s ACL sprain is a big blow to the Blue Jays starting rotation, which is currently dealing with injured list stints for Shane Bieber, José Berríos and Trey Yesavage.