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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce was carted off the field in his first MLB start since 2021 due to an apparent leg injury.
Ponce, 31, was injured while trying to field a bouncing ball between the pitcher’s mound and first base in the third inning of the Blue Jays’ 14-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies Monday night at Rogers Center.
Ponce appeared to take a wrong step and limped for a few strides before falling to the inland dirt. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. immediately motioned toward the dugout before Ponce collapsed to the ground.
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Cody Ponce (66) of the Toronto Blue Jays tips his cap to fans after leaving the game with an injury during a play at first base against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 30, 2026. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images)
The Pomona, Calif., native remained on the ground until he was helped onto the cart. Ponce was emotional on the cart but waved to the fans as he was taken off the field.
Ponce last pitched in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, with a 7.04 ERA in 15 appearances. He spent three seasons in Japan before pitching in South Korea in 2025 and got a three-year, $30 million deal with the Blue Jays this offseason.
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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce (66) throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of an interleague baseball game in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 30, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
He pitched 2.1 innings while striking out three and allowing one run to score in his start before being injured.
It’s unclear when Ponce might return to action.
Ponce was expected to play an important role in the Blue Jays’ starting rotation as they look to return to the World Series after falling just two outs short of beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s Fall Classic.
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Cody Ponce (66) of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 30, 2026. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images)
Dylan Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays, was also brought in alongside Ponce to bolster the rotation.
The Blue Jays (3-1) will look to bounce back from the loss when they face the Rockies (1-3) in Game 2 of their three-game series on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. ET.
