Ponce's ACL Surgery: Jays' Pitching Staff Struggles

0:00On April 18th, the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff is getting hammered by injuries this season, worse than most teams in the majors. They've got at least five arms, sideline, starters and relievers alike. The latest blow came Friday when right-hander Cody Ponds had successful ACL surgery after spraining his knee. That injury happened March 30th in his first start against the Colorado Rockies. Ponce's knee buckled while fielding a grounder early in the game. Now reports say it's season ending, with the Jays eyeing his return for spring training in 2027. Ponce is a 31-year-old who fought his way back to the big leagues. Drafted 55th overall by the Brewers in 2015, he debuted with the Pirates in 2020, but got released soon after. He spent four years overseas, shining in Japan and Korea. Over there, he balled out, all-star nods, MVP in the Korean baseball organization, even their side-young equivalent. Toronto bet big, signing him to a three-year, $30 million deal this off-season.

1:01Their Rockies game was his first state-side start since October 3rd, 2021. Manager John Schneider's clinging to a 1% shot, Ponce beats the odds and returns sooner, but it's a long road. With so many pitchers down, the Jays rotation stays shaky, forcing them to grind through the summer without this key piece. This has been Toronto Blue Jays News today, powered by AI.