As the offseason continues, many players are signing and making plans for the 2025 season. Two starting pitchers are joining the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) for the first time in their careers, as right-hander Cody Ponce has signed with the Hanwha Eagles, and southpaw Tucker Davidson has signed with the Lotte Giants.
Ponce, 30, was born in Pomona, California, and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and would spend two seasons as a member of the Pirates organization. From 2020-21, Ponce made five starts in 20 appearances, going 1-7, posting a 5.86 ERA, pitching in 55.1 innings, striking out 48 batters. After the 2021 season, he signed in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Nippon Ham Fighters. As for 2024, he signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, making 15 starts in the Pacific League, going 3-6, with a 6.72 ERA, striking out 56 batters and walking 16 in 67 innings.
As for Tucker Davidson, the 28-year-old was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He debuted with the Braves in 2020, making one start. Since then, Davidson has pitched as a member of the Braves, Angels, Royals, and Orioles organizations. Davidson only made one appearance in the MLB in 2024 with the Orioles, picking up a win, throwing four and two-thirds scoreless innings, walking two batters, and striking out one. He spent the majority of the season pitching in Triple-A in the Orioles organization.
Ponce makes the leap from Japan to South Korea, and Davidson will pitch overseas for the first time in his career. It will be interesting to see the development that both pitchers will be able to make as they enter the starting rotation for their respective KBO clubs.
