[breaking news] Ponce, who left Hanwha, was shaken by '2K perfect → 4 hits and 2K 1 run'... Why didn't the maximum 155km speed work

*This content was translated by AI.

Last year, Cody Ponce (32, Toronto Blue Jays), the most valuable player (MVP) from the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League, struggled somewhat, scoring his first run on his second practical stage after returning to the U.S. stage.

Ponce started the home game against the Boston Red Sox at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on the 3rd (Korea time), and marked four hits, two strikeouts, no four outs and one run (one earned run) against nine batters in two innings. The total number of pitches is 32. Of those, there were 18 strikes.

Boston made up the starting lineup in the order of Brayden Ward (center fielder), Nick Sogard (first baseman), Matt Tice (catcher), Mickey Gasper (designated hitter), Vinny Capra (second baseman), Alan Castro (right fielder), Tyler McDonough (left fielder), Max Ferguson (third baseman), and Franklin Arias (striker). The starting pitcher was Johan Oviedo.

In response, Toronto lined up the starting lineup in the order of George Springer (designated hitter), Nathan Lukes (right fielder), Davis Schneider (second baseman), Addison Barger (third baseman), Jesus Sanchez (left fielder), Tyler Heineman (catcher), Miles Straw (center fielder), Josh Casevich (striker) and Riley Tirota (first baseman). The starting pitcher was Cody Ponce.

Ponce made his first return to the exhibition game on the 26th of last month (Korea time). At that time, Ponce pitched against the Detroit Tigers with two strikeouts and no runs in one inning (IP). At that time, the total number of pitches was 22. Of those, there are 16 strikes. The maximum speed of the fastball was 96.7 miles (155.6 kilometers) per hour.

And the second exhibition game on this day. As soon as Ponce took the mound in the top of the first inning, he faced Ward, the leadoff hitter, and induced two fouls. He then threw a curveball on the third pitch to lead Ward to a ground ball in front of the first baseman, but allowed an infield hit as his first base cover was late.

Next up is Sogard. Ponce threw a cutter at the first pitch and induced a straight hit to left field to fill one out. Tice then entered the batter's box. The first ball is a low ball. He then threw a 95.5-mile (153.7km) four-seam fastball on the second pitch, but he was hit hard and gave up a hit that flowed to the right-center of the outfield. At this time, Ward, the first baseman, rushed home from second and third bases, but he was out of the home after being caught by Toronto's accurate relay play. 2 out. It was the moment Ponce got past the run crisis.

a continuous situation with two outs and a runner on first base. Gaspers coming into the next at-bat. I sprayed two balls in a row. Then, the third ball. The 95.5 mile (153.7km) four-seam fastball headed for the middle. Gasper hit his teeth. The ball flew to right field. It continued to stretch, but I got caught on the warning track. The end of the inning. It was the moment when Ponce safely overcame the loss crisis. His one-time maximum speed was 95.8 miles (about 154.2 kilometers).

Then, at the top of the second inning, when the two teams faced 0-0. Ponce took the mound again. The batter was Kapra. a strike outside the first pitch. The second ball is the outside ball. The third ball is a foul. The fourth and fifth pitches were both balls. The ball went on to form an outside course. In the end, the 6th ball after the full count. Ponce led Capra to a line drive out to center field, filling one out count.

Next up is Castro. A ball with a similar course to the body on both the first and second pitches. The third pitch was also a low ball. Ponce, who was quickly caught up in a 3-0 unfavorable ball count. The fourth ball. Castro swung the bat vigorously, aiming properly. The ball led to a right-handed hit that laser-like exited next to the second baseman. When the 92.6 mile (149km) cutter was driven into the middle, he was beaten without a doubt. McDonough stood at the next batter's box. As soon as the third ball came in from the ball count 1-1, Castro, the first baseman, stole second base. Foul on the fourth pitch. Fifth pitch. Ponce threw a 95.6-mile (153.9-kilometer) high fastball, striking out swinging. 2 out. Was an elaborate high fastball over the top of the strike zone.

Subsequently, Ferguson came to the plate. Ponce induced a swing and miss on the first pitch. The second ball was also a change-up ball on the same course. In the end, it's the third ball. Ferguson hit Ponce's 95.6-mile (153.9-kilometer) four-seam fastball and scored a timely double on the right-field line that quickly escaped along the line next to the first baseman. This time, it was a little crowded from the body to the center. It was the moment when Ponce scored his first run in this year's exhibition game. However, he struck out Arias, the next batter, with a ball count of 2-2, on the fifth pitch and did not score any additional runs. In the second inning, Ponce's maximum speed was 96.3 miles (155 kilometers). In the end, Ponce's pitch lasted until the second inning. He finished his pitch on the day by handing over the mound to Tyler Rogers, who took the mound in the third inning.

Meanwhile, Ponce began his professional career with a Milwaukee Brewers draft pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. Making his big league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, he pitched in 20 games (five starts) and played 55 ⅓ innings in two seasons until the 2021 season, marking 1-7 with 48 strikeouts and ERA 5.86.

Ponce then left for Japan. For three seasons from the 2022 to 2024 season, I experienced Asian baseball through the Nippon Ham Fighters and Rakuten Golden Eagles. And ahead of the 2025 season, Ponce signed a relationship with Hanwha. He entered Daejeon with a total of $1 million, including a down payment of $200,000 and an annual salary of $800,000.

Ponce dominated the KBO League. He started 29 games in the 2025 season and marked 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA. While playing a total of 180 ⅔ innings, he achieved a detailed performance of 128 hits (10 home runs), 41 walks, 252 strikeouts, 41 runs (38 earned runs) per inning (WHIP) of 0.94 and a 0.199 hit rate. He pitched 20 times in quality start (less than three earned runs in six innings as a starter). He topped all four categories including multiple wins, ERA, strikeout and winning percentage (0.944). In the end, based on this strong performance, Ponce returned to the United States by signing a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on a three-year total of $30 million.

Toronto is familiar to Korean fans as Ryu Hyun-jin's former team. This season, he made it to the World Series for the first time in 32 years. However, he lost unfortunately after a bloody battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers until Game 7, and had to be satisfied with the runner-up. How will Toronto and Ponce perform this season.

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*This content was translated by AI.