From the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) to LIDOM, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Solomon Bates’ baseball journey continues.
The Gigantes del Cibao announced the signing of the pair of right-handers early Monday morning, ushering in a pair of proven arms to help boost their championship aspirations.
Ponce De Leon, a 32-year-old from La Mirada, California, has pitched in the Cardinals’ organization in the past, appearing in 57 games from 2018-2021. His last season in the big leagues included a career-high for appearances (24) and a career-high in ERA (6.21).
In his most recent professional appearance, a stint with Diablos Rojos del México of the LMB Ponce De Leon went 4-2 with a 4.04 ERA in 16 games.
For Bates, a former eighth-round pick out of USC, the signing with Diablos allows him to continue tallying innings while deciding the next step for his career.
LIDOM is Bates’ fourth international baseball stint; he pitched in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico.
Most recently with Oaxaca, Bates tallied a 4.94 ERA over 21 games and 102 innings of work.
Both pitchers should slot into the rotation for the Gigantes, who will look to continue their strong play after a first-place finish a year ago.
According to LIDOM.com, Bates and Ponce De Leon will join Austin Roberts, Nick Dombkowski, Henry Urrutia, Andrew Knizner, and Beck Way as key signings for the upcoming season.
