Sources: Ediel Ponce, 2024 Rookie of the Year, left Cuba
Ediel Ponce was the leader in ERA with 2.15
Right-handed pitcher Ediel Ponce left Cuba in the last few hours, heading to the Dominican Republic, sources told Béisbol FR.
He will seek to sign with a Major League organization in the near future after being part of Cuba's U18 team.
Ponce was named Rookie of the Year in the 63 Cuban National Series after leading the Cuban championship in ERA with 2.15.
He emerged as one of the country's top talents while pitching for Ciego de Ávila. In 71 innings, he posted 8-2 with 43 strikeouts, a fastball between 85-88 mph, and top-tier breaking pitches such as his changeup and sinker.
Ponce is now 17 years old, weighing 170 pounds, and standing at 6-0 tall.
After the National Series, he joined Cuba's U18 team for the Pre-World Championship held in Panama from August 2 to 11. There, the Cuban team secured a spot in the World Championship, with Ponce as the ace of the rotation.
In 14 innings, opponents batted .111 against him, with 9 strikeouts and 5 hits allowed. Several scouts observed Ponce in that competition and were impressed by his use of breaking pitches and his composure on the mound.
In that tournament, he was pitching a no-hitter against Venezuela, but it was broken in the final inning. Nevertheless, he completed both games he started.
I see Ponce as a great talent with a remarkable command of his pitches. He needs to gain more weight and increase his velocity, but according to scouts, Ponce is a strong candidate for a professional contract.
The Cuban talent will train at the prestigious Baseball Academy Chiqui Mejias in Bonao.
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Now, he will enter a phase of physical development, more specialized training, and improvement of his skills, such as velocity, pitch movement, and command of the strike zone.
Ponce is a talent likely to sign when the next international signing period begins on January 15, 2025.