The White Sox are adding yet another arm to the mix.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the White Sox have signed Daniel Ponce de Leon to a minor league contract. The right-handed pitcher has been assigned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Ponce de Leon, 31, spent the 2022 season with four different clubs – Angels, Mariners, Nationals, and Tigers – playing only for their respective minor league affiliates. As can be assumed, his numbers weren’t great. By the season’s end, Ponce de Leon finished with a 9-11 record, 6.52 ERA (84 ER/166.0 IP), 131 strikeouts, 59 walks, .254 opponent average, and 1.50 WHIP.
Known for his versatility as both a starter and reliever, many fans might remember Ponce de Leon from his time spent with the St. Louis Cardinal during the 2018-21 seasons. During his MLB career, he’s appeared in 57 games, logging a 4.33 ERA and 1.327 WHIP over 147.2 innings thrown.
It’s been no surprise that the White Sox bullpen has been an issue in the season’s early going. Mounting struggles from Jose Ruiz eventually led to his departure while Joe Kelly recently joined Matt Foster, Garrett Crochet, and Liam Hendriks on the list of injured relievers. While the team awaits some of these key guys to make their return, a move to sign a player like Ponce de Leon is not surprising.
As Heyman included in his original report, Ponce de Leon is scheduled to start for the Knights in Thursday’s game. We’ll see how he fares as both he and the newly signed Alex Colome will likely try to get up to speed rather quickly with hopes of seeing meaningful innings at the majors in the not-so-distant future.
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In 2017 Pounce de Leon was struck in the forehead by a line drive. He was in the hospital for 3 weeks and did not return until 2018. He really has not been the same pitcher since.