BIOGRAPHY
Daniel Ponce de Leon was born on January 16, 1992, in La Mirada, California. He is a pitcher in the MLB.
Daniel Robert Ponce de Leon graduated from La Mirada High School in 2010, where he was named the school's All-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Originally he was selected by Tampa Bay in the 24th round of the June, 2010 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign. As a freshman in 2011, Ponce pitched in four games for the University of Arizona. He was transferred to Cypress College near his hometown for his sophomore season in 2012.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB draft, but he did not sign and enrolled at the University of Arizona to play college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats. He pitched only three innings as a freshman, and then transferred to Cypress Junior College for the 2012 season. After that season, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 38th round of the 2012 MLB draft, but once again did not sign. After the season, he transferred once again, this time to the University of Houston. In 15 starts for Houston, he was 7–5 with a 4.47 ERA.
Following the season, Ponce de Leon was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2013 MLB draft and the two parties had reached a deal. However, he failed his physical due to concerns about nerve placement in his elbow and did not sign. Ponce de Leon planned to return to Houston, but the NCAA ruled that he was ineligible to return. He then enrolled at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. In 14 starts, he was 9–2 with a 1.60 ERA, holding batters to a .196 batting average.
After the season, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Ponce de Leon in the ninth round of the 2014 MLB draft, and he signed.
After signing, Ponce de Leon made his professional debut that same season with the State College Spikes of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League. In 12 games (ten starts), he was 3–3 with a 2.44 ERA. In 2015, he pitched for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League and the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, compiling a combined 11–2 record with a 2.12 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 20 games (19 starts), and in 2016, he pitched for the Springfield Cardinals of the Class AA Texas League, going 9–8 with a 2.53 ERA in 27 starts. He began 2017 with the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.
On May 9, 2017, while pitching against Victor Caratini of the Iowa Cubs, Caratini hit a line drive that struck Ponce de Leon in the head. He had emergency surgery and remained in the hospital for three weeks after the incident. He was cleared for baseball activities in August, but did not return to baseball until spring training 2018. He began 2018 with Memphis.
On June 11, 2018, the Cardinals promoted Ponce de Leon to the major leagues. In 12 games prior to his callup, he was 5–2 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 2.41 ERA. He did not make an appearance with St. Louis and was optioned to Memphis on June 15. He was recalled again on July 23. He was 9–3 with a 2.15 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) with Memphis. He made his major league debut that night as St. Louis's starting pitcher at Great American Ball Park versus the Cincinnati Reds. In his debut, Ponce de Leon threw seven no-hit innings in which he struck out three and walked three on 116 pitches. He was optioned back to Memphis the next day, and recalled by St. Louis once again on July 27. In total in 2018 for St. Louis, Ponce de Leon made 11 appearances, with four being starts, posting a 0–2 record with a 2.73 ERA in 33 innings pitched.
Ponce de Leon began the 2019 season in Memphis, but was recalled to St. Louis multiple different times before he was called up for good on September 1. Over 48 2⁄3 innings pitched with St. Louis during the regular season, he went 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA, striking out 52.
