Cody Ponce’s journey back to Major League Baseball is taking a turn few could have predicted. After conquering the KBO League in Korea and making a much-anticipated return to the Toronto Blue Jays, Ponce’s 2026 season was cut brutally short by a devastating ACL tear in his very first start. Now, as he faces the long road of rehabilitation, he’s found an unexpected partner by his side: none other than NFL superstar and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who also happens to be his brother-in-law.
It’s the kind of cross-sport alliance that makes you do a double take. According to multiple reports, including coverage from the Jays Journal on August 11 and 12, 2026, Ponce is embracing a unique training regimen as he recovers from ACL surgery. The twist? He’s not just sticking to baseball drills or standard physical therapy. Instead, he’s combining lower body rehabilitation with upper body workouts by throwing footballs to Kittle and other NFL tight ends, including Mason Pline of the Kansas City Chiefs and Robert Tonyan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaking candidly on the ‘6ix Inning Stretch’ podcast, Ponce shared, “During my ACL rehab, I’ve been throwing a football to George and working out with other NFL tight ends. It’s been a great way to keep my arm sharp and stay motivated.” The story gets even more compelling when you realize both Ponce and Kittle are on parallel rehab journeys—Kittle himself is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in January 2026 during a Wild Card playoff game in Philadelphia. The two athletes, joined not just by family ties but by shared adversity, are helping each other push through the grueling demands of professional sports recovery.
“Kittle is running routes, and I’m throwing him the ball. We’re both grinding out our rehab routines, and honestly, having another pro athlete—especially family—makes a huge difference,” Ponce told Jays Journal. The two also hit the weight room together, combining their knowledge and competitive spirits to stay on track for their respective comebacks.
Family connections run deep here. Ponce’s wife, Emma, is Kittle’s sister, making this more than just a partnership of convenience. In fact, Kittle was in Toronto this past March to cheer on Ponce during his first start of the 2026 MLB season—a game that would unfortunately end in heartbreak. Ponce, making his first MLB start since 2021, took the mound against the Colorado Rockies. But in the third inning, while fielding a batted ball, he suffered a catastrophic right knee injury. The diagnosis: a torn ACL. Surgery followed in April, and just like that, Ponce’s much-anticipated return was over before it had truly begun.
For baseball fans in Korea, Ponce’s name is synonymous with dominance. In 2025, he joined the Hanwha Eagles and delivered one of the most remarkable pitching seasons in KBO history: 29 games, 180⅔ innings, a 17-1 record, a stingy 1.89 ERA, and a jaw-dropping 252 strikeouts. He didn’t just lead the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts—he set a new single-season strikeout record and achieved a 17-game personal win streak, another KBO record. His efforts earned him the KBO League MVP and the Golden Glove for pitchers, cementing his status as a legend in Korea and reigniting his MLB dream.
That dream took shape after the 2025 season, when Ponce inked a three-year, $30 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a triumphant homecoming for a pitcher who, after years in Japan’s NPB and Korea’s KBO, had proven he belonged among baseball’s elite. But fate had other ideas. The 2026 opener, which should have marked a new beginning, instead became a cruel setback. To add to the emotional weight, Kittle—who had traveled to Toronto to support his brother-in-law—witnessed the injury firsthand from the stands.
Now, the two athletes find themselves united in purpose. Both are fighting to return to their respective sports, and both are leveraging their professional experience and family bond to make the process a little less lonely. “It’s a long, tough process to come back from an ACL tear,” Jays Journal noted, “but training with another pro athlete, especially one who’s family, can be a game-changer.”
The stakes for Ponce’s return are high, not just for him but for the Blue Jays organization. Toronto’s pitching staff has seen significant changes—Kevin Gausman was traded, and Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are both set to become free agents after the season. The club is counting on Ponce to be a key part of the rotation when he’s healthy. Jays Journal projects that Ponce is aiming to be ready for spring training in 2027, and if his recovery continues on track, he could play a major role on the mound for the Blue Jays next season.
There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding Ponce’s comeback. Can he recapture the form that made him a KBO superstar? Will his unconventional rehab with an NFL tight end give him an edge in his recovery? And what will his presence mean for a Toronto team in transition? These are questions that only time—and perhaps a little more sweat alongside George Kittle—will answer.
For now, Ponce and Kittle remain focused on their shared mission: getting healthy and returning to the top of their games. Their story is a testament to the power of resilience, family, and the unique connections that professional sports can forge. As 2027 spring training approaches, all eyes will be on Ponce to see if he can once again defy the odds and reclaim his place among baseball’s best.
One thing’s certain: with the support of family, a relentless work ethic, and a bit of NFL flair added to his baseball routine, Cody Ponce is giving himself every chance to make his next MLB chapter one worth watching.