Ponce's ACL Sprain: Blue Jays' Rotation in Crisis

It's March 31st.

This is Canada News Today, local news powered by AI.

Cody Ponce's big debut with the Toronto Blue Jays turned into a nightmare real quick.

The 31-year-old signed a three-year, $30 million deal in the off-season, coming back to

Major League Baseball after dominating four.

Years overseas in Japan and Korea, but on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies, he

lasted just two innings and one out before a knee injury ended it all.

Here this week, in the top of the third, Ponce went down hard chasing a routine grounder

from Jake McCarthy.

He misjudged the bounce, twisted his right knee awkwardly, and had to be carted off the

field in pain.

Folks like NFL star George Kiddles showed up height from his strong spring training, but

it all crashed in seconds.

The injury hits the Jays rotation hard, already missing Jose Barrios, Shane Bieber, and

Trey Yessevage on the injured list.

They've been leaning on Kevin Galsman, Dylan Sees, Eric Lauer, and Max Scherzer to

start the season, and now this adds even more strain.

Manager John Schneider dropped the news Tuesday.

It's a right ACL sprain, confirmed by MRI, though they're waiting on a second opinion

to check for A.

Faultier Ponce will miss significant time, but the team is holding out hope he pitches

again this year.

That setback leaves the Blue Jays scrambling early, testing their death right out the gate

as they push through a tough start.