Daniel Ponce de Leon

Ponce de Leon's second major-league campaign was much like his first as he bounced between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis throughout the year and logged time as both a starter and reliever. However, his results last season were less encouraging than in 2018 as his FIP (4.41) increased by over a run and his walk rate (12.8%) went up by three ticks. Not everything was a regression for Ponce de Leon, however, as he continued an upward trend in his strikeout rate, registering a 25.6 K% in 2019 after posting a 23.5% mark the previous year. Ponce de Leon also continued to dominate with his four-seam fastball, holding hitters to a .188 BAA and registering a 29.2 K% on the pitch. The Cardinals don't appear to have an open spot in the rotation for Ponce de Leon in 2020, and he was more effective as a reliever in 2019. He should start the season in the bullpen but could be first in line if a starting spot opens up.

Poncedeleon is Italian for swingman. The young righty has been a starter throughout his minor-league career, but the Cardinals used him both in the rotation and out of the bullpen over a small sample of 33 innings last season. His strikeout rate inexplicably soared in Triple-A last season despite the fact it was his second time in Memphis and he had not added a new pitch. He is an extreme flyball pitcher at the upper levels who has a full repertoire of pitches, but not one great pitch in the bunch. Poncedeleon is mostly a fastball/cutter guy these days as his other pitches are easier for hitters to pick up out of his hand. He is best known, so far, for taking a no-hitter into the 8th inning in his major-league debut, but overall made more trips between Memphis and St. Louis than he did starts for the big-league club. He is single-league material and back-end material at that. His stuff simply lacks life.