"KBO MVP also works in the U.S'...Ponce, the class is different

*This content was translated by AI.

'KBO MVP also works in the U.S.' Toronto Ponce, exhibition game '3G ERA 1.50'... be different in class

Cody Ponce (32, Toronto Blue Jays), who dominated the KBO League and headed to the U.S., is already predicting success.

Ponce started the exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida, and threw 36 pitches in three innings, striking out one and striking out.

Ponce, who previously had a poor record of 1-7 in 20 games in MLB, proves that he has definitely changed from the past with his salty pitching, which gave up only one run in six innings in three games.

Ponce, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 55th overall pick in the second round in the 2015 MLB Draft, received opportunities in the big leagues in 2020 and 2021, but failed to produce any significant results.

After playing for three seasons in the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), he moved to the Hanwha Eagles last year and became an opportunity to completely change his Ponce career.

Last year, Ponce played 180 ⅔ innings in 29 games, winning 17-1 with 1.89 ERA, 252 strikeouts, 0.94 WHIP per inning and 0.199 hit rate, winning percentage of 0.94 and winning percentage of ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage. After finishing the season, Ponce signed a three-year contract with Toronto for a total of $30 million (about 44.5 billion won).

Ponce, who has been evaluated as a completely different pitcher in Korea, has clearly changed since the exhibition game.

Ponce, who pitched perfect with two strikeouts in one inning in his first game against the Detroit Tigers on the 26th of last month, was somewhat shaken with four hits, two strikeouts and one run in the Boston Red Sox game on the 3rd, taking charge of two innings.

The game was the most perfect. Ponce, who started the first batter Colton Kauser with a ground ball to shortstop in the bottom of the first inning, started the first inning neatly by catching Taylor Ward with a fly ball to right field and Pete Alonso with a grounder to the pitcher.

In the second inning, Samuel Basalo grounded out to second base, Ryan Mountcastle hit a straight shot to shortstop, Dylan Beaver grounded out to second base, and also finished the inning with three outs.

Ponce, who took the mound again after the batter scored one run in the top of the third inning, induced Brarian Ramos to fly to center field, and Western Wilson struck out a foul tip with a powerful fastball after two balls.

I didn't overdo it. Ponce, who played one inning in the first game and two innings in the second game, pitched only 36 pitches, but this time he threw only three innings and went down from the mound. Of the 36 pitches, strikes reached a whopping 25 pitches, and the maximum speed was 97.3 miles (156.6 kilometers) per hour.

Earlier, foreign players who won MVP in the KBO League and headed to the U.S. became the main characters of the "reverse export myth." Starting with Eric Thames, Josh Lindblom and Eric Peddy (Chicago White Sox) played outstandingly after heading back to the big leagues. It raises expectations that Ponce will remain another example of the reverse export myth.

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*This content was translated by AI.