Blue Jays' John Schneider Makes Unfortunate Announcement After 4 Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 4:43 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays lost their first game of the year on Monday against the Colorado Rockies , but the most concerning moment came when starting pitcher Cody Ponce went down with an injury.

Ponce, who was making his season debut and his first MLB appearance since 2021, attempted to field a ground ball in the bottom of the third inning. As he reached for it, his right knee buckled and hyperextended, sending him to the ground in clear discomfort.

He was unable to walk off under his own power and was carted off the field. During the game, Toronto announced he had been removed due to right knee discomfort, and after the loss, manager John Schneider revealed Ponce would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Ponce had been off to a solid start in his return to the United States. The 31-year-old recorded three strikeouts through 2 1/3 innings while allowing one run. On Tuesday, ahead of Toronto’s second game of the three-game set in Colorado, Schneider spoke with reporters and announced the MRI results.

Ponce suffered a right ACL sprain and will miss significant time. While he has not yet been officially placed on the injured list, Lazaro Estrada has a locker in the clubhouse and appears to be the corresponding move.

Schneider added that Ponce will get a couple more opinions before deciding on the best recovery plan. He also confirmed that the Blue Jays will keep the rest of their rotation on its current schedule rather than reshuffling to replace Ponce (h/t Shi Davidi of Sportsnet).

Cody Ponce suffered a right ACL sprain, will miss significant time, said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. Waiting for a couple more opinions before exact course is charted.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) March 31, 2026

This is a devastating setback for Ponce, who worked hard overseas in the KBO to earn another MLB opportunity. Last season in the KBO, he posted a 1.89 ERA across 29 appearances.

Toronto rewarded him with a three-year $30 million contract this past winter to help stabilize the back end of the rotation. Now that plan is on hold as he faces a lengthy absence.

The Blue Jays rotation now has three capable starters on the injured list, with Ponce joining Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber. With so much early pitching uncertainty, Toronto’s depth will be tested far sooner than expected.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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