What? 58.8 billion won? I got the KBO League buff right Ponce's Skyrocketing Stock Price, At Least $30M + San Diego Urgent Interest

Dec 02, 2025

What? 58.8 billion won? I got the KBO League buff right Ponce's Skyrocketing Stock Price, At Least 30M San Diego Urgent Interest
The match between Samsung and Hanwha in the fifth round of the PO held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 24th, and Ponce struck out Diaz in the top of the fifth inning and cheered for fans in the stands. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.24/



'From at least 30 million dollars (about 44.1 billion won) to maybe 40 million dollars (about 58.8 billion won)'

The KBO League seems to be reborn as a sacred place to nurture players again. Cody Ponce, who was just such a player in the Major League, has been reborn as a special ace in the KBO League Hanwha Eagles and is seeking to return to the MLB after winning the MVP of the 2025 season. It is a very favorable response locally. In addition, it is highly evaluated that it can receive a ransom of at least $30 million.

Even the name of Merrill Kelly, dubbed the greatest 'KBO League reverse export icon of all time', was summoned. It is predicted that Ponce will be able to open another era of success with 'the second Kelly'. Furthermore, Ponce's most likely destination was mentioned. Local reports said the San Diego Padres should catch Ponce.




What? 58.8 billion won? I got the KBO League buff right Ponce's Skyrocketing Stock Price, At Least 30M San Diego Urgent Interest
The 2025 KBO Award Ceremony was held at Lotte Hotel in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 24th. Ponce, who was named MVP, is delighted. Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.11.24/
Ponce was the star of Hanwha's sensation this year. To be honest, if it wasn't for Ponce, Hanwha wouldn't have made it to the finals of the Korean Series. There is no room for disagreement. Ponce made a strong splash from the beginning, winning the first 15 consecutive games in the KBO League as a member of Hanwha this year.

In the end, he played in 29 games and 180 ⅔ innings, recording 17 wins and 1 loss with a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts, winning four gold medals in multiple wins, ERA, winning percentage and strikeouts. Furthermore, this season's KBO League MVP also returned to Ponce's charge.

In fact, this kind of performance was not expected at all. Ponce was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers as the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft. However, he was not a standout player in the major leagues. He played as a bullpen pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2020-2021 season, with a 1-1 record and 3.18 ERA in 2020 and only six losses in 2021 without a win. The ERA was 7.04.




In the end, Ponce left the MLB as if he were pushed out of the league and knocked on the door of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In the 2022-2023 season, he appeared in 39 games in three seasons for the Nippon Ham Fighters and the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2024, pitching 202 innings, recording 10 wins, 16 losses and ERA 4.54.

What? 58.8 billion won? I got the KBO League buff right Ponce's Skyrocketing Stock Price, At Least 30M San Diego Urgent Interest
The game between the Hanwha Eagles and the LG Twins in Game 3 of the Korean Series at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 29th. Hanwha Ponce is pitching hard. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.10.29/
Until then, Ponce was still too far to be called a special express. However, Ponce, who came to Hanwha, became a completely different player. Whether he received KBO's buff properly or not, the average fastball speed has increased. It has been completely upgraded with a splitter installed properly.

Regarding Ponce, local media The Athletic reported on the 2nd that `Ponce's average fastball speed was about 93 miles from 2020 to 2021. However, it has accelerated by about 2 miles in the KBO League Hanwha. This also increased the power of breaking balls, which were not very powerful in MLB. In particular, the newly installed splitter became Ponce's second weapon. Thanks to this, Ponce recorded a high strikeout rate'




He then predicted that Ponce would sign a high ransom in MLB thanks to these changes. MLB.COM said 'Former MLB bullpen pitcher Ponce is receiving great attention from MLB again after occupying the KBO League 'Ponce is receiving a lot of attention from many clubs in the FA market. 'There is a possibility of signing a contract of at least $30 million and up to $40 million over three years,' The Athletic reported.

Which club is likely to give Ponce such a huge contract. Locally, the San Diego Padres are expected.

What? 58.8 billion won? I got the KBO League buff right Ponce's Skyrocketing Stock Price, At Least 30M San Diego Urgent Interest
The 2025 KBO Award Ceremony was held at Lotte Hotel in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 24th. Ponce, the MVP, is kissing the trophy. Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.11.24/
MLB.COM said on the 1st that `San Diego is having serious problems with the starting rotation. We need to find a new strategy, he recommended the recruitment of Ponce. The media recommends team-specific problems of 30 major league teams and players who can solve them. Analysts say San Diego's selection is the biggest problem, and the solution is to take Ponce.

In fact, San Diego is on the verge of collapse of its starting lineup for next season. Right-hander Dylan Siege, who played well with eight wins this year following 14 wins last year, left for the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King is also on the FA market. Darvish Yu has elbow surgery and cannot play next year. The starting rotation transfusion is urgent. If San Diego takes Ponce, it can fill the starting spot right away. Attention is focusing on whether Ponce will be called by San Diego and open an era of successful reverse export with 'the second Merrill Kelly'.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.