The Toronto Blue Jays have had an up-and-down launch to the 2025-26 MLB season. Injuries to their pitching staff have been a huge story so far this season. Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Yimi Garcia, Shane Bieber, and now Cody Ponce.
The Blue Jays made a plethora of pitching moves over the offseason, adding Tyler Rogers, Dylan Cease, Chase Lee, Spencer Miles, and plenty of others to their bullpen. Luckily, Toronto has this depth; otherwise, things could be significantly worse for the Canadian ball club.
However, the team shared a new update on Ponce, along with some good news.
Max Scherzer Delivers a Win For the Toronto Blue Jays
First, the good news for the Blue Jays. Despite injuries to Berrios, Bieber, and Yesavage, they have the depth to weather the early injury storm.
Max Scherzer is a big reason for that.
Mad Max returned to the Blue Jays late in the offseason and delivered in a big way for the Blue Jays in his season debut. Against the Colorado Rockies, he threw four punch-outs and only surrendered one run. The lone run came in the form of a home run in the sixth innning, his final inning of work in the game.
Scherzer got awarded the victory, as the Blue Jays walked away with a 5-1 final score.
Blue Jays Sitting Pretty in the AL East
Following their latest victory over the Rockies, the Blue Jays are in a great position in the AL East.
Before their April 1st match, they are sitting in first place in the AL East. The Blue Jays have a 4-1 record so far this season. Additionally, they have scored 26 runs and have allowed 26 runs.
In the American League, they are in a three-way tie for first with the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees.
Here are the hitting stat leaders for the Blue Jays in the very early season:
- Hits: Andres Gimenez, 8
- Home Runs: Kazuma Okamoto & George Springer, 2
- Slugging: Andres Gimenez, .722
- Stolen Bases: Andres Gimenez, 2
- Doubles: Ernie Clement, 3
- Triples: Andres Gimenez, 1
- RBIs: Andres Gimenez, 5
These are the pitching stats leaders for starters and relievers:
- Strikeouts: Dylan Cease, 12
- Wins: Jeff Hoffman/Spencer Miles/Max Scherzer/Eric Lauer, 1
- Holds: Braydon Fisher & Mason Fluharty, 2
- Saves: Jeff Hoffman, 1
- Innings: Kevin Gausman & Max Scherzer, 6.0
- SO/9: Dylan Cease, 20.25 (First in the MLB)
Blue Jays Give an Update on Cody Ponce
Ahead of their April 1st game against the Rockies, John Schneider spoke to the media to give them an update on Ponce. Hazel Mae took to X to report the information.
“Cody Ponce will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache (orthopedic surgeon) on Monday in LA,” Mae wrote on X. “He’s (Elattrache) reviewed all the MRI’s.. I think to see him (Ponce) in person, get his hands on him, and decide what route to take. Surgery is on the table.”
Surgery being on the table is both good and bad news. It’s good news because its a definitive action the team and player can take to fully resolve the ailment. It’s bad news because of the recovery time needed.
According to Elite Baseball Performance, if ACL reconstruction surgery is needed, the minimum recovery time is nine months. In Ponce’s case, surgery will end his season before it even begins.
Hopefully, for both the Blue Jays and Ponce, surgery will not be needed.
Blue Jays Get Great News Amid Concerning New Cody Ponce Update