Toronto Blue Jays sign Korean league MVP Cody Ponce to three-year deal

Pirates reliever Cody Ponce throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the third inning of a baseball game on Sept. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

TORONTO — After a four-year run in Asia, right-hander Cody Ponce is returning to Major League Baseball after agreeing to a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The deal is worth US$30 million, the team said Thursday in a statement announcing the deal that was first reported last week.

Ponce, 31, had a 17-1 record over 29 starts last season with the Hanwha Eagles, winning the most valuable player award in South Korea’s KBO League. He posted a 1.89 earned-run average with 252 strikeouts.

Ponce split time in Japan between the Nippon Ham Fighters and Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2022-24. He had a 15-24 mark with a 4.54 ERA over three seasons.

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The native of Pomona, Calif., was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

He made his big-league debut with Pittsburgh in 2020 and had a 1-7 record and 5.86 ERA over parts of two seasons with the Pirates.

Ponce provides depth to a starting rotation that’s anchored by Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease, who recently signed a seven-year, $200-million contract with the Blue Jays.

Toronto will kick off its pre-season schedule on Feb. 21 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The American League champions will begin their regular season on March 27 at Rogers Centre against the Athletics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2025.