Blue Jays pitcher carted off field after scary injury
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce was carted off the field March 30 after suffering a scary injury in the Jays’ game against the Colorado Rockies at Rogers Centre. MORE: Blue Jays cut 24-year-old infielder immediately before Opening Day: report Ponce’s heel appeared to get caught in the dirt on the mound while delivering a pitch to home plate. He tumbled head over heels down the mound, throwing the ball towards the plate to try to avoid a balk, but it was too late.
Ponce stayed in the game after that mishap, only to get hurt running toward first base after Jake McCarthy hit a ground ball on the infield. The lower-body injury left Ponce unable to leave the field on his own power, and he was taken off the field on a cart. The Blue Jays trail the Rockies 1-0 in the third inning.
It was a sudden, abrupt ending to Ponce’s first game with his new team — and his first game on an MLB mound since 2021. The Blue Jays lured Ponce, 31, back to North America from Korea with a three-year, $30 million contract in December. MORE: Traded Blue Jays outfielder who ‘hated’ Ross Atkins gets honest about GM Ponce, a native of California, went 1-7 with a 5.
86 ERA in 20 major league games with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020-21. He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Japan, and 2024 in the KBO, before ultimately returning to MLB. For now, his much anticipated return to the big leagues appears to have been short-lived.
The Blue Jays have yet to announce details of Ponce’s injury. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead — MARCH MADNESS: 2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times & dates for NCAA Tournament MLB: Who has the highest Opening Day payroll in MLB? Not the Dodgers NFL: Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty weighs in on Fernando Mendoza-Ty Simpson debate SPORTS MEDIA: 2026 MLB Opening Day TV schedule, full list of games ENTERTAINMENT: 2026 Sports Emmy Awards nominees, full list announced VIRAL: Best & most outrageous MLB ballpark foods for 2026 season