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By Shaun McAvoy
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the most active teams this offseason, signing multiple hurlers in free agency.
After nearly winning it all but falling short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, the Blue Jays bolstered their roster this offseason with the signings of Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers and Cody Ponce.
Ponce hasn't played in the MLB since 2021, but has excelled internationally, winning the KBO MVP and Choi Dong-won Award, the equivalent of a Cy Young, this season. As Ponce prepares for a return to the big leagues with the Blue Jays, MLB.com's Keegan Matheson predicted that the 31-year-old will have a breakout season.
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"This feels like an off-the-board pick, given that Ponce just signed a three-year, $30 million deal, but he’s a fascinating story, coming back to MLB after four years pitching in Japan and Korea," Matheson wrote Monday. "Last season, Ponce won the KBO’s MVP Award and absolutely dominated opposing hitters with 252 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings.
"Last time we saw him in the big leagues, though, he was a fringe reliever with the Pirates who couldn’t stick. Ponce’s velocity has ticked up and he seems to have unlocked something. So, at age 31, we could witness the late breakout Ponce has been working toward."
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Ponce struggled in his last stint in the big leagues, posting a 7.98 ERA across 15 appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and will look to maintain the high level of play he displayed in the past few seasons.
The 31-year-old will look to prove the Blue Jays right for taking a chance on him this offseason.
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