After a challenging stint in Japan failed to reignite his major league career, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce found his path back to form through an unlikely source: the mindset of his professional athlete brother-in-law. This perspective shift catalyzed a remarkable turnaround, culminating in a Most Valuable Player season in South Korea and a lucrative three-year, $30 million contract to return to the big leagues with Toronto.
From Japan's Minors to KBO Stardom
The journey was far from straightforward. Following a major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, where he posted a 1-7 record and a 5.86 ERA over parts of two seasons, Ponce's career took him to Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. From 2022 to 2024, splitting time with the Nippon Ham Fighters and Rakuten Golden Eagles, the right-hander struggled to a 15-24 record with a 4.54 ERA, even spending months in Japan's minor leagues.
"I just wanted to go out there and perform the best I could and try to create a possibility of coming back with at least one offer," Ponce admitted. The breakthrough came not from a mechanical overhaul, but a mental one, inspired by watching San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.
The Kittle Influence: Rediscovering Joy
On a video call Tuesday night, Ponce explained the pivotal change. "He helped me bring out my inner child again," Ponce said of his brother-in-law. "And that was something that I felt like I was lacking for the two years prior while I was in Japan."
Ponce was struck by Kittle's ability to blend ferocious competitiveness with palpable joy on the football field. "I saw the way he was playing the game of football... 'Wow, you can play such an angry game and be having fun at the same time, but yet still have this type of tenacity, this type of drive, this type of competitiveness.' I was like, 'That is something that I want to try to figure out.'"
This new approach manifested in simple routines. The six-foot-six, 255-pound pitcher now makes a point of watching Star Wars content before every start, a ritual that helps him reconnect with a Little League mentality. He also dedicates three to four hours daily to recovery, activation, and training.
A Dominant MVP Campaign and a Deep Blue Jays Rotation
The results in 2025 were nothing short of spectacular. Ponce dominated the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Hanwha Eagles, putting up video game numbers: a 17-1 record, 252 strikeouts, and a microscopic 1.89 ERA over 29 starts. This performance earned him the league's MVP award and made him a highly sought-after free agent.
Ponce also credits former Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, a teammate in Korea, with helping him expand his pitching arsenal. He now throws a diverse mix that includes two types of cutters, two curveballs, two change-ups, a splitter, and a mid-90s fastball.
He joins a loaded Toronto rotation aiming to build on last season's World Series appearance, where the Jays fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. Ponce will slot into a group anchored by Kevin Gausman and newly-signed ace Dylan Cease, and also featuring Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios.
"I want to win baseball games. I want to win a World Series," Ponce stated. "So anything that I can do to be the best help that I can to this team, that’s what I’m going to do." The native of Pomona, California, said he was drawn by the competitive yet lighthearted atmosphere he observed during Toronto's playoff run last October.
The Blue Jays, with Ponce now in the fold, will begin their pre-season schedule on February 21 against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the pitcher completes an improbable and inspiring journey back to Major League Baseball.
