What will Ponce’s role be with the Blue Jays? His latest recovery provides some hints as to what Toronto’s front office could have in mind for the upcoming season.
As a starter
The best way to use Ponce, from the Blue Jays’ perspective, would be in the starting rotation. Technically, Toronto already has plenty of pitchers in the rotation with José Berríos, Shane Bieber, Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage. This would mean Ponce doesn’t have a starting position on this stacked roster, but that’s only if all five starters can provide consistency and a solid number of innings.
Blue Jays and RHP Cody Ponce agree to a three-year deal, according to multiple reports, including MLB’s @Feinsand. Ponce was named KBO League MVP this past season, with a 17-1 record and an ERA of 1.89.
The right-hander hasn’t thrown that many innings until 2025, but if his improvement in the KBO is any indication, he should be more than ready to take a stab at becoming an effective innings-eater as a starter. His 2025 numbers in terms of innings pitched are similar to what Toronto’s starters typically do in a given year. The Blue Jays prefer a workhorse pitcher, and they hope Ponce will be the next man in the rotation to provide even more stability down the stretch.
As a swingman
If Ponce’s bid as a starter falls through next year (usually whether the Jays trade Berrios or not), he could easily take on a swingman role instead. This would be what Bowden Francis did with the Blue Jays in 2023 and 2024; Eric Lauer also played a similar role in 2025, further confirming his flexibility.
The Blue Jays are entering uncharted territory with Ponce, as most of his success at the professional level has come from abroad. Whether his most recent recovery will translate into success in the MLB is unknown and anyone’s guess. But if his role in the rotation doesn’t work out, Toronto would look to turn Ponce into the next Eric Lauer, who can fill the roles in the rotation and bullpen both. Playing in both capacities would give the Blue Jays more room to add different players to the roster, whether via trades or free agency.
If Ponce establishes himself as the Blue Jays’ tall man in 2026, he and Lauer will likely share relief duties to some extent. Ponce will certainly get his chance as a starting pitcher given his latest performance and the buzz surrounding his signing. The question will be how his pitches will work against MLB hitters and how quickly he can make the necessary adjustments on the fly.
Should Ponce struggle with his starts and thrive in a relief role, the Blue Jays would still have a capable pitcher who could become a long or middle reliever who can step in to help the team succeed. It wouldn’t be the most ideal outcome, but Ponce’s role is more than just a starter as the team faces a potential rotation deadlock or various challenges throughout the upcoming season.
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