San Francisco 49ers icon given unique Blue Jays honor after $30m brother-in-law carted off in debut

Apr 2, 2026 - 08:15

The Toronto Blue Jays made several additions to their roster this offseason after falling just short of World Series glory in 2025.

After locking up superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a $500 million extension last year, and adding Dylan Cease to a franchise record seven-year, $210 million contract, the Blue Jays own a top-5 payroll in baseball.

Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on ahead of playing against the Athletics in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on March 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. — The Cease signing broke the franchise record for largest free agent contract handed out

Toronto also gave a significant sum of money to Cody Ponce, inking him to a three-year, $30 million contract after he re-invented himself in Japan and Korea.

With the addition of Ponce, the Blue Jays got a two-for-one deal. He’s another high-priced star athlete who is sure to bring plenty of energy to the clubhouse, so much so, the Blue Jays have found a way to honor him.

“Cody Ponce’s brother-in-law, George Kittle, is here with him again on Tuesday. There is a ‘Kittle’ locker in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported.

“Ponce has spoken about how Kittle has influenced him to find the joy in his game again. A good resource for Ponce.”

Ponce is married to George’s sister Emma, and the San Francisco 49ers tight end was influential in getting Cody’s career back on track.

“I saw the way he was playing the game of football and was not in awe, but (more) in this view of, wow, you can play such an angry game and be having fun at the same time,” Ponce told the Associated Press.

“But yet, I still have this type of tenacity, this type of drive, this type of competitiveness, and be doing it all at the same time.

“I was like, that is something that I want to try and figure out.”

Ponce was a 2015 second round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers, who pitched in two-major league seasons with an ERA of 5.86, before going abroad.

His first three seasons did not catapult him back into MLB conversations, but with Kittle’s support, 2025 was different.

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. — Kittle has been given his own locker in the Blue Jays clubhouse

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Pitcher Cody Ponce (66) throws a pitch during the MLB regular season game between the Colorado Rockies and the Toronto Blue Jays on March 30, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. — Cody Ponce won the MVP award in Korea, earning himself a $30 million contract

With the Hanwha Eagles, he posted a 1.89 ERA and struck out 252 batters over 180 ⅔ innings, earning him the league MVP award.

Ponce carted off in Blue Jays debut

But his Blue Jays debut, which Kittle and Emma attended, didn’t exactly go to plan.

Having looked in control, and racking up three strikeouts through 2.1 innings, Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy hit a soft ground ball back to the mound.

While attempting to scoop the ball, he hyperextended his knee, and went down in visible pain immediately.

Unable to put any weight on his right leg, Ponce was carted off the field, and it was announced that he had suffered an ACL sprain.

The day after, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that despite the unfortunate situation he finds himself in, Ponce is handling it well.

Cody Ponce #66 of the Toronto Blue Jays falls to the ground with an injury during the third inning in their MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at the Rogers Centre on March 30, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. — Ponce was diagnosed with a sprained ACL, and is expected to miss significant time

“I talked to him for a while last night, up until like 1 a.m,” Schneider said.

“He’s got a pretty good perspective. I think that he is frustrated for sure, but I think he has a pretty good perspective on it.”

Toronto placed the pitcher on the 15-day injured list, and Lazaro Estrada was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Given that Kittle was a major influence in Ponce’s return to the Major Leagues, they will be hoping that giving him space in the locker room will bring a similar impact to their other players.

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