Blue Jays Starter Ponce Injured in Debut

Toronto pitcher carted off field after right leg injury in third inning

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:29pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of blue, white, and red.A cubist interpretation of a Blue Jays pitcher's injury highlights the fragmented nature of the game.Today in Pittsburgh

Toronto Blue Jays starter Cody Ponce was injured while attempting to field a ground ball in the third inning of Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Ponce fell to the ground in pain and had to be helped onto a cart with an apparent right leg injury. It was Ponce's Blue Jays debut and his first major league appearance since 2021 after pitching in Japan and South Korea.

Why it matters

Ponce's injury is a setback for the Blue Jays, who were hoping the 31-year-old right-hander could provide depth to their starting rotation this season. The team will now have to rely on other pitchers to fill his spot in the lineup.

The details

Ponce fell to the ground in pain as a run scored from third base. He was helped onto a cart and taken off the field. Ponce entered the day with a 1-7 record and 5.86 ERA in 20 career MLB appearances (five starts) for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020-2021.

  • Ponce was injured in the third inning of Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies.

The players

Cody Ponce

A 31-year-old right-handed pitcher making his debut for the Toronto Blue Jays after pitching in Japan and South Korea.

Louis Varland

The pitcher who entered the game in relief of Ponce.

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What’s next

The Blue Jays will have to evaluate the extent of Ponce's injury and determine how long he may be sidelined.

The takeaway

Ponce's injury is a disappointing start to his Blue Jays career and a setback for the team as they try to build depth in their starting rotation.