Pittsburgh Pirates Minors: Cody Ponce has Mixed Results

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired an intriguing relief prospects from the Milwaukee Brewers last week.  He has had mixed results so far.

Cody Ponce was the highest upside prospect the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired this year at the trade deadline.  He is also the only prospect the team acquired, at least until the player to be named later from the Corey Dickerson trade is announced.  Still, a 6’6” power arm is always a good prospect to pay attention too.

Ponce does not have the upside that many of the Bucs prospects have, but nonetheless he is still an intriguing prospect.  A former starter, Ponce has seen an improvement in his game since being moved to the bullpen.  He has always been a power pitcher, and his stuff has simply just played better in shorter stints with a mid 90s fastball.

The Pittsburgh Pirates assigned Ponce to the Double-A Altoona Curve, and this was the same level he was playing at in the Brewers Organization.  He has appeared in two games already since joining the team, and had a tough first outing but a very good second outing.

Ponce’s first start came on August 2nd against the Reading Fightin’ Phils,  obviously of the Phillies Organization.  He pitched one inning and gave up two earned runs.  The biggest concern with Ponce was his command in his first outing.  He walked the first batter he faced, and then struck out the next hitter.  However, things quickly went south.  He allowed another base runner when he hit him with a pitch, then gave up a double to top prospect Mickey Moniak and both runners scored.

However, he had a better showing last night for the Curve.  The Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate took on the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the San Francisco Giants organization.  Ponce was asked to get a multi-inning save and shut the door.  In his two innings of work he did not allow a base runner and struck out three opposing batters, a better performance from the new prospect.

Ponce struggle so much in his first appearance because of his lack of command.  This does not seem to be a huge issue with Ponce, especially since moving to the bullpen.  Over the last two years he is only walking around three batters per nine innings pitched.  Maybe it was just nerves of making a début for a new organization.  Regardless, he bounced back well in his second outing and showed why he is an intriguing relief prospect.