Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed newly signed pitcher Cody Ponce could undergo surgery after suffering a knee injury Monday.
Ponce lasted just 2.1 innings in his first MLB start since the 2021 season, suffering an ACL sprain as he went to field a ball in the top of the third inning. While the injury is certainly serious, Schneider left the door open for a return this season directly following the incident.
“That’s what we’re holding onto,” Schneider said, “until we have all of the opinions. I think there’s probably a slight chance of that.”
Now, though, Schneider says Ponce will visit renown orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache to determine whether or not the right-hander needs surgery, per Hazel Mae.
“[Elattrache] reviewed all the MRI’s.. I think to see [Ponce] in person.. get his hands on him, and decide what route to take. Surgery is on the table.”
Ponce’s road to returning to MLB hasn’t been easy, as he has been playing overseas to prove himself since 2022. He spent three years in NPB with the Nippon Ham Fighters and the Rakuten Golden Eagles before he got his break in the KBO in 2025.
Ponce had a fantastic season with the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea, making 29 starts and pitching a total of 180.2 innings. He kept a 1.89 ERA during that time, striking out 252 batters and posting a remarkable 17-1 record.
What Does the Blue Jays’ Rotation Look Like Without Cody Ponce?
With Ponce’s injury, the Blue Jays have only gotten thinner as far as starting pitching is concerned.
Along with Ponce, who is now on the 15-day injured list, the Blue Jays are without Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios, leaving them with just four starting pitchers: Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer.
To help mitigate Ponce’s absence, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Lazaro Estrada from Triple-A, and he will likely help fill in while Toronto is short-handed.
Estrada has just two MLB appearances under his belt, both coming in 2025. He pitched 7.1 innings across those appearances, striking out 10 batters and allowing seven runs to cross the plate.
The Blue Jays have a 4-2 record through their first two series of the season despite their pitching issue, and will hope it doesn’t hinder them too much as they look to return to the World Series in 2026.
