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Mariners Release Daniel Ponce de Leon

By Darragh McDonald | July 20, 2022 at 5:31pm CDT

The Mariners have released right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The 30-year-old will return to the open market and search for his next opportunity.

Ponce de Leon was drafted by the Cardinals in 2014 and stayed with the organization until being released in September of 2021. He had a nice MLB debut but saw his ERA climb as time went on. He put up a 2.73 ERA in 2018, followed by marks of 3.70, 4.96 and 6.21 in the three subsequent campaigns.

Although he generally got strikeouts at above-average rates, his walks kept mounting and made it harder for him to succeed. Last year, the strikeouts vanished, as his rate dropped from 31.5% in 2020 to 15.2% in 2021, helping his ERA spike. On the whole, he has 147 2/3 innings of MLB experience with a 4.33 ERA, 37% ground ball rate, 23.9% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate.

This year, he signed a minor league deal with the Angels in January but was released and joined the Mariners on another minors deal in April. Even during his down years with the Cardinals, he still generally pitched well in Triple-A, though even that has eluded him this season. Through 16 starts with the Tacoma Rainiers, he’s logged 71 1/3 innings with a 7.95 ERA. His 24.1% strikeout rate is a bit above average, but his 12.7% walk rate and 27% ground ball rate are both subpar. Based on those unfortunate results, the Mariners have cut him loose and sent him back into free agency.

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Seattle Mariners Transactions Daniel Ponce De Leon

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View Comments (57)

Comments

  1. Wowwwwww

    1 year ago

    I remember this dude wrote and released a biography without ever accomplishing much. Released it like his 2nd or 3rd season lol

    3
    Reply
    • Hubert

      1 year ago

      The book was an account of how he came back from a near-fatal injury at Memphis in AAA, in 2017 when he took a Carantini line drive to the head. Sort of different from the way you characterize it.
      pressboxonline.com/2021/03/28/cardinals-rhp-daniel…

      38
      Reply
      • Wowwwwww

        1 year ago

        Not really. It was a biography about him. His injury was just one of the stories, albeit the main one. But it doesn’t make what I said any less right lol try harder

        Reply
    • qbert1996

      1 year ago

      Its funny because he’s accomplished much more in his life than you have I’m sure. Maybe do some research before you make more of an ass of yourself.

      5
      Reply
      • myaccount2

        1 year ago

        I agree his take is terrible, but I always find the “he’s accomplished much more” take odd considering you have no idea. Wowww could be a doctor, scientist, or belong to one of the other countless professions that truly accomplish more than ballplayers.

        8
        Reply
        • Animalize

          1 year ago

          @myaccount: Exactly!

          5
          Reply
        • qbert1996

          1 year ago

          Yep because a person who’s accomplished that much would be trolling the MLB Trade Rumors page….

          9
          Reply
        • Wowwwwww

          1 year ago

          Wasn’t trolling lol even if it makes an interesting story it could have just been an article. More power to him if a publisher wants to pay him for it. But he wasn’t a big name or a great player so his own book still seems unwarranted. But hey attack me, I don’t mind you’ll have to do much better than that lol

          Reply
        • Putmeincoach12

          1 year ago

          Wow – You open yourself up for it with a dumb comment like you posted attacking a guy who overcame near death and brain trauma and still made his way to the major leagues. Life is. Ore than baseball and his book is about life and overcoming obstacles and “getting back up” when things seem overwhelming.

          6
          Reply
        • myaccount2

          1 year ago

          @qbert- You don’t think doctors, lawyers, physicists, engineers, etc. have hobbies? I think it’s foolish to believe busy or accomplished people don’t use this website. I mean, MLB players peruse MLBTR and they probably work over 320 days a year between workouts, spring training, games, and so on which is pretty busy, I’d say.

          1
          Reply
        • SodoMojo90

          1 year ago

          The “they have accomplished more than you” comes from someone who’s accomplished nothing, typically. Just sour grapes

          Reply
      • miltpappas

        1 year ago

        I really wish people would get over that “he’s accomplished more than you” line. First of all, why are you comparing? What are you, seven years old? Second, Wowwwwww could be a surgeon for all you or anyone else knows. Or maybe he’s a self-made millionaire. And even if he isn’t, let’s stop comparing. It’s childish.

        1
        Reply
    • crestonguy

      1 year ago

      Wow. Accomplishing much in life is all about baseball stats, huh? Inspiring story of a guy who almost died from a baseball injury, battled back and got close to a no hitter in his return. Regardless of baseball, this guy is a winner with interesting perspective.

      8
      Reply
      • mrperkins

        1 year ago

        Apparantly Wowwwww still hasn’t gotten over his own brain trauma

        6
        Reply
    • Hippyripper

      1 year ago

      I remember when Ponce first came up, was pretty impressive. Then from 2020 on it was just like he struggled to finish off hitters? Nothing he had was that strikeout pitch and he pitched like he wanted strikeouts could get two strikes and just couldn’t put batters away, this eventually led to increased walk rates.

      Reply
  2. hiflew

    1 year ago

    So he couldn’t find the fountain of youth in Seattle then. I know I hate myself for typing it too.

    19
    Reply
    • brodie-bruce

      1 year ago

      @hiflew at least it made Caligula grin (i had to throw a tool reference in there)

      1
      Reply
  3. Fred Park

    1 year ago

    Now all the idiots will make “witty” comments about the Fountain of Youth or some other cringeworthy nonsense.
    What a name to be saddled with.
    I’m for more baseball. The M’s are on the best kind of roll.

    5
    Reply
    • UWPSUPERFAN77

      1 year ago

      Yes,But But!

      Reply
    • Braves Butt-Head

      1 year ago

      At least these “idiots” know something about Spanish exploring history. Plus St. Augustine FL is a pretty cool town.

      6
      Reply
      • Fred Park

        1 year ago

        But why not stick to baseball conversation on this baseball site?
        Apparently these clowns know Spanish exploring history and yada yada but the game of baseball remains a mystery to them.
        How many think the M’s can sweep the Astros at home?
        I do. They may not sweep, but it would not surprise me if they did.
        All of a sudden they are the completest team I remember ever seeing.

        3
        Reply
        • hiflew

          1 year ago

          Then why don’t you talk about baseball instead of insulting people trying to have a little fun?

          3
          Reply
    • Animalize

      1 year ago

      @Fred He’s Costanza’s favorite explorer.

      3
      Reply
      • Fred Park

        1 year ago

        Costanza? Who he?

        1
        Reply
  4. UWPSUPERFAN77

    1 year ago

    Like Me! PONCE got BOUNCED!

    Reply
  5. gotigers68

    1 year ago

    First Governor of Puerto Rico

    1
    Reply
  6. Dorothy_Mantooth

    1 year ago

    Looks like he found the Fountain of Truth instead…off to the Asian leagues or even the Frontier League now.

    1
    Reply
    • UWPSUPERFAN77

      1 year ago

      NICE!

      Reply
  7. stephaniebpetagno

    1 year ago

    He’ll end up with the Giants and pitch to a 1.49 ERA for about three months.

    4
    Reply
  8. BaseballClassic1985

    1 year ago

    Ponce de Leon
    Constantly on
    The Fountain of Youth
    Not Robotron

    Peace is a word
    I’ve heard before
    So, move and move and move
    Upon the dance floor

    2
    Reply
    • Datashark

      1 year ago

      Hope you are rocking the adidas when you typed that.

      1
      Reply
      • BaseballClassic1985

        1 year ago

        I rock my Adidas, never rock Fila

        1
        Reply
  9. Animalize

    1 year ago

    Where’s the valid evidence that his strikeout rate dropping helped his ERA spike? ….Note that I specified “valid evidence”.

    1
    Reply
    • qbert1996

      1 year ago

      The ERA spike from 4.96 in 2020 to 6.21 in 2021. All you needed to do was click on his baseball reference page.

      2
      Reply
      • Animalize

        1 year ago

        @qbert: I see you didn’t understand the question. (And for emphasis and clarity, I practically asked the question twice, even.)

        1
        Reply
        • qbert1996

          1 year ago

          The article states his strikeout rate fell from 31.5% in 2020 to 15.2% in 2021 which coincides with his ERA spike that I mentioned earlier. How much more “valid evidence” do you need?

          2
          Reply
        • Animalize

          1 year ago

          @qbert: That’s not even evidence let alone valid evidence. It’s merely correlational. Simpleton analytics.

          Reply
        • Tbear458

          1 year ago

          His walk rate also shot up as did his WHIP.

          Reply
        • Animalize

          1 year ago

          @Tbear: Those are merely additional global factors that TEND to correlate with ERA. No causal evidence has been presented.

          The only pitching variable that matters, EVER, is not giving up runs. Everything else is merely predictive.

          Except for closers. For them, the only variable that matters, EVER, is save percentage. Everything else is merely predictive.

          Reply
      • Animalize

        1 year ago

        Whoever upvoted qbert’s comment should remedy that situation. He erred, having completely failed to understand the question.

        1
        Reply
  10. Datashark

    1 year ago

    Tampa Bay or Miami teams may find some magic with him – if they consider history

    1
    Reply
  11. Tacoshells

    1 year ago

    Dude was a stud and highly touted pitcher in st. Louis org what happened well I feel like he was never given a consistent chance pulled up and down a lot from minors to big leagues time for the As to give this stud muffin a chance

    3
    Reply
    • DonOsbourne

      1 year ago

      Dude can’t throw consistent strikes. Too many walks, constantly falls behind in counts, can’t locate within the strike zone. A pure thrower, not a pitcher. And I say all of that regrettably. I really wanted it to work out for him in St Louis or somewhere else.

      2
      Reply
      • allweatherfan

        1 year ago

        Add to that a poor attitude. Couldn’t control his pitches or his emotions.

        1
        Reply
        • Tacoshells

          1 year ago

          O wow didn’t realize he was a princess

          1
          Reply
    • Ol’ Uncle Charlie

      1 year ago

      He was given plenty of opportunities in STL. There were flashes of what could be, but it never really came together.

      1
      Reply
  12. Rosstradamus

    1 year ago

    Ponce de Leon actually found the ‘Fountain’ quite some time ago….the Fountain of Walks, Hits and Earned Runs!!! 😉

    1
    Reply
  13. eephus11

    1 year ago

    With the Cardinals he had ok frontline stats but to watch him pitch was agonizing. 100 pitches in 5 innings and never seemed to learn to finish off a batter efficiently. Bend(a lot)but not break was his specialty. He might be able to figure out the middle relief thing if his arm is still ok.

    2
    Reply
  14. Henry Silvestre

    1 year ago

    Tomorrow is 12 days until the deadline and we talking about Ponce de Leon… alrighty then!

    1
    Reply
    • scottaz

      1 year ago

      As this website wrote. “With the annual amateur draft and All-Star Game now in the rearview mirror, what figures to be a frenzied and condensed summer trade market will be up and running.”

      So this is the first of a frenzied trade market time! Wahoo! I’m soooo excited!

      1
      Reply
  15. B-Cap

    1 year ago

    Looks like a c bloom classic pick up, make way for Boston next

    Reply
  16. scottaz

    1 year ago

    Dbacks just released Dallas Keuchel.

    1
    Reply
  17. nottinghamforest13

    1 year ago

    He has a bad attitude and tried blaming Yadi of all people for his pitching struggles.

    1
    Reply
  18. Boom Boom

    1 year ago

    Flashback.. he walked in a run or two w stl and went after yadi in the dugout.. released the next day.

    Reply
  19. Boom Boom

    1 year ago

    Flashback.. he walked in a run or two w stl and went after yadi in the dugout.. released the next day. Hope someone signs him but no love lost,

    Reply
  20. JimmyForum

    1 year ago

    Flashback..when the going gets tough, Yadi goes on vacation and abandons his team

    2
    Reply
  21. RodBecksBurnerAccount

    1 year ago

    I used to watch him pitch on Friday nights when he was at the University of Houston. I always thought he got a raw deal with the Cardinals. He’d put up good numbers in a start, get moved to the pen. Put up good numbers in the pen then get demoted to the minors. Granted the Cardinals always have good depth, he just didn’t get a chance to build off his success.

    1
    Reply

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