Giants looking to sign pitcher who dominated in Korea

The San Francisco Giants are positioning themselves to potentially sign right-hander Cody Ponce, whose explosive 2025 season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has reignited his MLB prospects.

At 31, the former Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick is drawing interest from multiple teams, but San Francisco’s pursuit stands out amid their need for rotation depth.

Ponce, who debuted in the majors in 2020 but struggled with a 0-6 record and 7.04 ERA over 38 1/3 innings in 15 games during 2021 — leading to his release by the Pirates in November of that year to pursue opportunities in Japan — bounced back dramatically with the Hanwha Eagles.

In 27 starts this season, Ponce posted a staggering 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA, 252 strikeouts, and a 0.94 WHIP over 180 innings, holding opponents to a .199 batting average. This performance earned him the rare KBO quadruple crown as the first foreign pitcher to lead the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage — a feat unmatched since 2010.

Ponce also captured MVP honors for March-April, showcasing a revamped arsenal including a mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking pitches honed in Japan.

Hanwha GM Kim Hwan-sik expressed support for Ponce’s ambitions, stating the club would respect his choice and seek a posting fee if he lands an MLB deal.

Analysts peg his contract at $2-3 million AAV on a multi-year pact, comparable to recent KBO-to-MLB transitions like Erick Fedde.

A Giants signing would unite Ponce with former Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and add a Bay Area connection — his brother-in-law is San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.