Injured Toronto Blue Jays pitcher shares heartfelt message to fans
After a five-year journey back to the major leagues, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce's return to an MLB mound did not go as planned.
Ponce sprained the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on an awkward step off the mound during a March 30 start against the Colorado Rockies. He is projected to miss six months, which could be the remainder of the 2026 MLB season.
Despite the rough start to his three-year Blue Jay tenure, Ponce posted a positive message to fans on his Instagram.
View this post on Instagram.
"Not the way I expected this journey to start. I love this team and the brotherhood we have," Ponce wrote. "I am so pumped to be here, and am so happy to be a Blue Jay! I can’t wait to be back in Rogers Centre with all y’all!"
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Cody Ponce last December to bolster the starting rotation after he put up a 17-1 record with a 1.89 ERA with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korean KBO League.
Before March 30 in a Blue Jays uniform, Ponce's last game in the major leagues was for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 27, 2021, in a 13-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. From there, he was released by the Pirates and went overseas to play for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.
Blue Jays IL as of Apr 7, '26
C Alejandro Kirk (thumb surgery) OF Anthony Santander (shoulder surgery) INF Addison Barger (ankle) SP Jose Berrios (elbow) SP Shane Bieber (elbow) SP Bowden Francis (TJ) SP Cody Ponce (ACL) SP Trey Yesavage (Shoulder) RP Yimi Garcia (elbow surgery) — Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) April 7, 2026
Ponce joins a long list of Blue Jays starting pitchers who all started the season on injured reserve: Bowden Francis (Tommy John surgery), Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Jose Berrios (elbow) and Shane Bieber (elbow).
Beyond this season, Ponce is under contract with the Blue Jays until 2028.
"The best trilogies always start with a plot twist," Ponce said, concluding his post with a picture of popular Star Wars figure Darth Vader.
Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images
