DANIEL PONCE DE LEON NEWS

Set to open season in rotation Ponce de Leon, who allowed three earned runs on five hits and six walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings versus the Astros on Thursday, is on track to begin the season in...

Impact Kwang Hyun Kim (back) is still building up to a starter's workload as camp winds down, allowing Ponce de Leon to open 2021 in the starting rotation. The 29-year-old may only receive one or two starts until Kim is fully stretched out, but a strong showing could go a long way toward creating additional opportunities. Ponce de Leon had eight starts in nine appearances with a 4.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 45:20 K:BB over 32.2 innings for the Cardinals in 2020.

MARCH 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ponce de Leon not rattled by tough start As Daniel Ponce de Leon enters a rather crucial year in his career, it’d be hard to blame him if external pressures were to creep into his p...

MARCH 26, 2021 • MLB.COM

Chisox star Jiménez out 5-6 months, Rays' Anderson ailing

A week before opening day, the Chicago White Sox found out slugger Eloy Jiménez will be closed down for most of the season

MARCH 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitches to contact in latest outing Ponce de Leon allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks across five innings in a Grapefruit League win over the Marlins on Thursday. He struck out four.

Impact The right-hander, who stretched out to 71 pitches, was more hittable than in any of his three previous trips to the mound this spring, but Ben Fredrickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Ponce de Leon was experimenting with a faster tempo and a move to the third-base side of the rubber. While the latter seemed to help him with location, Frederickson reports the former seemed to affect him during his one truly troublesome frame, the third. "I think I should have slowed down maybe a bit in that three-run inning," Ponce de Leon said. "It was kind of playing catch up, breath-wise. My delivery just felt off."

MARCH 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lester pitches 2 innings, returns from gland removal surgery

Jon Lester was back on a mound, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring training and striking out a couple during his two...

MARCH 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Impressive in starting opportunity Ponce de Leon started Saturday's Grapefruit League win over the Marlins, allowing an earned run on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman across 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

Impact Ponce de Leon entered spring training as a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, which, at the time, was the only projected vacancy. Subsequently, No. 3 starter Miles Mikolas (shoulder) has seen his chances of Opening Day availability diminish significantly, and more recently, No. 2 hurler Kwang Hyun Kim has been temporarily sidelined with back tightness after struggling with velocity early. Consequently, Ponce de Leon's chances of earning some early-season starts seem to have gone up, and Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports Saturday's outing naturally served to fuel his candidacy. "I was really encouraged by Ponce's start tonight," manager Mike Shildt said postgame. "His arsenal was quality tonight. Really big league quality for sure."

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ponce de Leon could ease Cards' woes The Cardinals face an inflection point with their pitching, but they believe they have options. They feel that Daniel Ponce de Leon is one o...

MARCH 14, 2021 • MLB.COM

Continues stretching out Ponce de Leon, who has a chance to win the No. 5 role in the starting rotation, allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk over two innings during a Grapefruit League tie with...

Impact While he's yet to open a game in either of his first two Grapefruit League turns, Ponce de Leon has essentially logged an early-spring starter's workload with his pair of two-inning appearances. Despite giving up consecutive two-baggers Monday, the 29-year-old has pitched well overall and owns a 2.25 ERA over his four-inning spring resume thus far.

MARCH 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Impressive in relief Ponce de Leon, a candidate for the No. 5 role in the starting rotation, fired two scoreless innings in relief during a Grapefruit League tie with the Marlins on Tuesday, allowing o...

Impact The versatile right-hander got his spring off to a solid start with his scoreless outing, coming on in relief of starter Adam Wainwright after the veteran worked the first pair of frames. Ponce de Leon is likely to get at least one opportunity to start during spring training, but Tuesday's performance showcased his well-established ability to work effectively in long relief.

MARCH 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Candidate for No. 5 role Ponce de Leon is a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation as spring training begins, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Impact There are several candidates for the final spot in the rotation as spring training opens, as Carlos Martinez, Alex Reyes and even Johan Oviedo are also in contention. Silver points out that if manager Mike Shildt ultimately opts to go with a more steady presence, Ponce de Leon could be the choice, considering he's performed well overall in his 20 career starts and finished 2020 with a 2.65 ERA and 12.7 K/9 in the 17 innings covering his last three trips to the mound. The 29-year-old right-hander has also proven effective as a reliever, however, so there's also the chance he's a victim of his own versatility if Shildt decides Ponce de Leon's services could be better utilized in the bullpen.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Braves, Dodgers, Athletics advance to division series

OCTOBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Back with big club The Cardinals added Ponce de Leon to their 28-man roster Wednesday ahead of the team's wild-card series with the Padres, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Ponce de Leon is slated to work in long relief for the Cardinals, who have already announced their starters for the three-game series (Kwang Hyun Kim, Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty). After struggling with his control through much of August, Ponce de Leon settled into a groove in September, posting a 3.15 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB in 20 innings across his four appearances.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Heads back to taxi squad Ponce de Leon was returned to the Cardinals' taxi squad Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Ponce de Leon recorded his first win of the season during his start in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers, but he'll return to the taxi squad with two games remaining in the regular season. It's unclear if the right-hander will be utilized in any capacity if the Cardinals qualify for the playoffs.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dazzles to notch first win Ponce de Leon (1-3) struck out six and picked up the win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over six innings...

Impact The right-hander appeared headed for a seven-inning no-hitter before Orlando Arcia led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot. Ponce de Leon finished his evening having thrown 99 pitches (60 strikes), and his strong work in September -- 3.15 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB in 20 innings over four starts -- may have been enough to secure a job in the rotation during the playoffs, should the Cards hold onto their spot over the final games of the regular season.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins, Reds, Astros lock up spots in the postseason

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cardinals, Brewers split doubleheader amid playoff chase

Daniel Ponce de Leon pitched one-hit ball over six innings, Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 to split their pivotal double...

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans nine in no-decision Ponce de Leon didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Pirates, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings. He s...

Impact It's the second straight outing in which Ponce de Leon has fanned nine batters while giving up only two runs, but he wasn't rewarded with the win in either as the Cards waited until he was out of the game to take the lead in both contests. The right-hander has a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB through 14 innings in September, and he's currently scheduled for one more start in the regular season during a doubleheader against the Brewers on Sept. 25.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Pujols moves past Mays on HR list; A's clinch playoff spot

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cardinals sweep Pirates to gain ground in playoff push

Rookie Dylan Carlson hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run outburst to help the St. Louis Cardinals earn a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-2 victory in the n...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns to alternate site The Cardinals optioned Ponce de Leon to their alternate training site Tuesday.

Impact Ponce de Leon was up with the Cardinals for just one day, serving as the 29th man in the team's doubleheader with the Brewers. He started in the second half of the twin bill and turned in his best outing of the season, limiting Milwaukee to two runs over six innings while striking out nine to take a no-decision in the Cardinals' 3-2 win. St. Louis will have a need for an extra rotation member again for a Sept. 25 doubleheader versus the Brewers, so Ponce de Leon could be called up again at that time to make another start.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Whiffs nine in no-decision Ponce de Leon allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over six innings during the win against Milwaukee in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader. He struck out nine and did not factor i...

Impact Ponce de Leon turned in his best performance of the season Monday, fanning a season-high nine batters while walking just one. The lone blemish on his line was a two-run homer by Jedd Gyorko in the fourth inning. He lowered his season ERA to 6.23 and will likely be optioned back to the team's alternate training site.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Heads back to alternate site The Cardinals optioned Ponce de Leon to their alternate training site Wednesday.

Impact Ponce de Leon was called up from the alternate site Tuesday and designated as the 29th man for the Cardinals' doubleheader with Minnesota. He started the second game of the twin bill, working three innings and giving up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four in a no-decision. Though he'll move back to the alternate site to give St. Louis some short-term roster flexibility, Ponce de Leon will likely re-enter the rotation for next week's series in Milwaukee, which features doubleheaders Sept. 14 and 16.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down by Cardinals Ponce de Leon was optioned to the Cardinals' alternate training site Saturday.

Impact Ponce de Leon was roughed up Friday as he was unable to escape the first inning of his start, and he'll be sent to alternate camp as a result. Johan Oviedo will take the right-hander's spot in the starting rotation for now, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Can't escape first inning Ponce de Leon gave up four runs on two hits and four walks in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday versus Cleveland. He struck out none.

Impact Ponce de Leon's outing was done early, as Franmil Reyes bashed a three-run homer to give Cleveland a 4-0 lead. Ponce de Leon walked two of the next three batters before exiting the contest. The poor outing raised his ERA to 7.82 and his WHIP to 1.89. The 28-year-old has a 17:14 K:BB across 12.2 innings this season. His next start is expected to come Wednesday versus the Reds.

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Reyes HR, 5 RBIs, Indians get 20 hits, rout Cardinals 14-2

Franmil Reyes homered and drove in five runs, Carlos Santana hit a home run and scored four times and the Cleveland Indians routed the St. Louis Cardinals 14-2

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS