Cody Ponce

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #27 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Ponce's track has been up and down since the Brewers drafted him in the second round in 2015 and signed him for just over $1.1 million. After a forearm strain derailed his progress in 2016, he bounced back with a strong 2017 and reached Double-A by the end of the year. But he returned to Biloxi in 2018 and the sailing wasn't nearly as smooth, prompting a switch from a starting to relieving.
  
  Scouting Report: Ponce has dialed back what once was an upper-90s fastball to achieve better command and now sits 90-93 mph and will touch 95 mph. He pairs his fastball with an average, upper-80s cutter he uses to attack lefthanded hitters. His curveball sometimes is his second-best pitch, and he can throw it more as a "slurve"when needed. Ponce often throws his below-average changeup too firmly, but that pitch won't be as important if he remains a reliever. He throws all of his pitches for strikes and uses his physical size to his advantage, throwing the ball on a downward plane to induce groundball outs, although nothing he throws is plus.
  
  The Future: It has become evident that Ponce's future at the top level is probably as a reliever, where he can reach back for more with his fastball and focus on pitching in shorter bursts.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #18 prospect in 2018
  A right forearm strain delayed Ponce's first full season in 2016 for two months, and he scuffled in high Class A after being activated. He returned to the level in 2017 with Carolina and showed what he can do. Ponce had his ups and downs with the Mudcats but still posted a 3.38 ERA before a late-season promotion to Double-A Biloxi, where he finished strong with three impressive starts. A big, physical pitcher, he attacks with a 90-93 mph fastball that can go a bit higher and a cutter he uses against lefthanded hitters. He has worked to tighten the spin on his curveball, but still has to improve his changeup, which he throws too hard at times. Ponce has worked to be more of a pitcher, and his strikeout rate has suffered as he dials back his fastball. But his goal has been to get quicker outs and command all of his pitches, not light up radar guns. He also has focused on pitching to both sides of the plate, and keeping his walk rate down. Ponce is athletic and uses his height to pound fastballs in the lower half of the strike zone. The Brewers still believe Ponce has a future as a starter with a four-pitch mix and aggressive nature. He merely needs to sharpen his secondary pitches to continue moving forward.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #16 prospect in 2017
  The Brewers had high hopes for Ponce after a strong pro debut in 2015, when he was taken in the second round and signed for $1.1 million. But he developed arm issues in 2016 spring training and was held back in Phoenix for two months, then spent the rest of the season trying to catch up. Ponce's stuff backed up once he was assigned to high Class A Brevard County, which slowed his progress through the system. When healthy, the big-bodied, 6-foot-6 righthander has the stuff to succeed as a bulldog starter in the majors. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he can reach 98 mph at times, with an effective cutter in the upper 80s he uses to battle lefthanded batters. Ponce needs to work on a changeup that he often throws too firmly, and he needs to find more consistency with his curveball. He uses his size to throw his fastball on a downward plan and induce groundballs and shows good command of all his pitches when in good health. Ponce has more athleticism than might be expected of a pitcher of his size and has an aggressive approach to pitching. The Brewers think he has the durability and stuff to remain a starter and advance to the big leagues in that role.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #9 prospect in 2016
  Ponce rocketed up draft boards in 2015, ranking as one of the top college arms in his class. The Brewers snagged Ponce in the second round, and he put together a fine pro debut. The 6-foot-6 Ponce aggressively pounded the strike zone with high-octane stuff, issuing few walks while not shying away from contact. He has the size and four-pitch mix that scouts look for in a starter, including an explosive fastball in the mid-90s and an effective cutter he throws in the upper 80s. His fastball doesn't have much movement, but Ponce aggressively works both sides of the plate to avoid hard contact. He mixes in an erratic, 11-to-5 curveball and at times a changeup. If he continues to work on the latter pitch, it will keep hitters off his fastball. He missed time early in his junior season with shoulder fatigue but profiles as a starter. Despite his formidable size, Ponce shows good athleticism on the mound. Because he pitched well in his debut, Ponce probably will begin 2016 at high Class A Brevard County. Some scouts consider him bullpen material, but the Brewers believe his repertoire and competitiveness will allow him to stay in the rotation.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #36 prospect in 2015 draft
  Ponce has the size and four-pitch mix scouts look for in a starting pitcher, and despite his Division II pedigree, he was moving up draft boards in a year light on college rotation options. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, he has grown into his body in college, with his stuff improving each year. Ponce has solid athleticism and present strength that help him repeat his delivery, and he has pounded the zone this spring, with just seven walks in his first 46 innings. He pitches off a 90-95 mph fastball at his best, at times sitting in the higher end of that register, though it has just average-at-best life. His cutter-type slider is his best pitch, at times reaching the upper 80s last summer. At times he gets more depth on it as a true slider, and he throws an average curveball at times as well. He's still learning to use and trust his changeup. Ponce profiles as a durable innings-eater, though he missed a month early in 2015 with shoulder fatigue. Teams that saw him good in the Cape Cod League last summer (4-1, 2.82 for Brewster) could bite as early as the first round.

• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  Ponce rocketed up draft boards in 2015, ranking as one of the top college arms in his class. The Brewers snagged Ponce in the second round, and he put together a fine pro debut. The 6-foot-6 Ponce aggressively pounded the strike zone with high-octane stuff, issuing few walks while not shying away from contact. He has the size and four-pitch mix that scouts look for in a starter, including an explosive fastball in the mid-90s and an effective cutter he throws in the upper 80s. His fastball doesn't have much movement, but Ponce aggressively works both sides of the plate to avoid hard contact. He mixes in an erratic, 11-to-5 curveball and at times a changeup. If he continues to work on the latter pitch, it will keep hitters off his fastball. He missed time early in his junior season with shoulder fatigue but profiles as a starter. Despite his formidable size, Ponce shows good athleticism on the mound. Because he pitched well in his debut, Ponce probably will begin 2016 at high Class A Brevard County. Some scouts consider him bullpen material, but the Brewers believe his repertoire and competitiveness will allow him to stay in the rotation.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Ponce has the size and four-pitch mix scouts look for in a starting pitcher, and despite his Division II pedigree, he was moving up draft boards in a year light on college rotation options. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, he has grown into his body in college, with his stuff improving each year. Ponce has solid athleticism and present strength that help him repeat his delivery, and he has pounded the zone this spring, with just seven walks in his first 46 innings. He pitches off a 90-95 mph fastball at his best, at times sitting in the higher end of that register, though it has just average-at-best life. His cutter-type slider is his best pitch, at times reaching the upper 80s last summer. At times he gets more depth on it as a true slider, and he throws an average curveball at times as well. He's still learning to use and trust his changeup. Ponce profiles as a durable innings-eater, though he missed a month early in 2015 with shoulder fatigue. Teams that saw him good in the Cape Cod League last summer (4-1, 2.82 for Brewster) could bite as early as the first round.