After throwing seven no-hit innings in his MLB debut on Monday, right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon was sent back to the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate in Memphis. After throwing seven no-hit innings in his major league debut for the Cardinals on Monday, rookie Daniel Poncedeleon was optioned on Tuesday and sent back to St. Louis' Triple-A affiliate in Memphis. Poncedeleon threw 116 pitches in Monday's game against the Reds. He surrendered just three walks and striking out three before he was taken out of the game in following the seventh inning. He became the fifth pitcher to carry a no-hitter through seven innings of his major league debut since 1961's Expansion Era. His impressive debut took place just 14 months after the right-hander suffered a severe head injury. Poncedeleon took a line drive to his right temple in a Triple-A game in May of 2017 that resulted in brain surgery. Poncedeleon has made 18 appearances in Triple-A, posting a 2.15 ERA with a 2.15 strike-to-walk ratio. Poncedeleon had previously been called up earlier in the year without getting into a game.<doc-sep>When Daniel Poncedeleon of the St. Louis Cardinals was pulled after 116 pitches on Monday night against the Reds, he had thrown a game to remember. In his major league debut, he had not surrendered a hit through seven innings, capping an epic comeback from a grave injury. Then the Cardinals lost the game. In this era of restricted pitch counts, it is not uncommon for starters to be pulled, even when holding the other team hitless. And sometimes their teams go on to lose. It happened in April to Jarlin Garcia of the Marlins (the Mets came back to beat them), and last year to Ariel Miranda of the Mariners and Sean Manaea of the Athletics. It happened to Steve Barber of the Orioles in 1966 and again in 1967. Leading 1-0 after the seventh inning, Poncedeleon was yanked for a pinch-hitter on Monday. He told reporters he was fine with the decision. “First of all, I’m a liability at the plate. I struck out twice looking. A one-run game, needed a big at-bat. I 100 percent understand. Plus I was 100-something pitches in.” But with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, reliever Bud Norris gave up a homer, then loaded the bases and finally gave up a walk off single to Dilson Herrera and the Reds won.<doc-sep>Photo : Joe Robbins ( Getty Daniel Poncedeleon made his big-league debut Monday night, 14 months after a comebacker hit him in the temple in a minor-league game and very nearly ended his career. And what a debut it was! Poncedeleon left the game after the seventh inning, having thrown 116 pitches without allowing a single hit. Just three harmless walks: Advertisement ESPN says Poncedeleon is the fifth pitcher since 1961 to carry a no-hitter through at least seven innings in his major league debut. The Cardinals lost the combined no-no in the eighth inning when Jordan Hicks allowed a crummy single, and lost the game in the ninth on a Eugenio Suarez solo homer and a walk-off RBI single from pinch hitter Dilson Herrera. So the Cardinals lost (good), but something very cool and memorable happened for the inspirational Cardinals rookie (also good). Truly a win-win result.<doc-sep>On Monday the St. Louis Cardinals sent right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon to the mound for his major league debut against the Cincinnati Reds. To say it went well is an understatement: he threw seven hitless innings until being removed for pitch count reasons, giving up three walks and striking out three. He’s been on quite a roll lately, having given up just one hit in nine innings in his last Triple-A start for Memphis back on July 15th. Poncedeleon was sent back to Memphis this morning but he’ll certainly be back in St. Louis later this year. Let’s take a look. The Cardinals originally drafted Poncedeleon in the ninth round in 2014 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. After a successful debut in the ‘14 New York-Penn League (2.44 ERA, 52/14 K/BB in 44 innings), he split 2015 between Low-A and High-A, combining for a 2.12 ERA with an 87/30 K/BB in 119 innings. In the final edition of the Baseball Prospect Book, I wrote this: Everyone roots for this guy because, well, how can you not? A ninth round pick out of Embry-Riddle in 2014, DPDL can get his fastball up to 93-94 MPH and will mix in a nice cutter, curve, and change, inducing numerous ground balls. His command has proved better than expected in pro ball and so far the A-ball levels have not been much of a challenge. The main question is his role. Although a starter thus far, when he was in college he was generally seen as a future reliever. We should note the sharp decline in his strikeout rate upon promotion to High-A. My guess is that he does end up in the pen eventually but he could be very good there. Grade C+. The Cardinals (apparently wisely) ignored my relief projection and he started regularly in Double-A in 2016, posting a 3.52 ERA in 151 innings with a 122/56 K/BB and only 128 hits allowed. He entered 2017 as a Grade C+ prospect again. Alas, Poncedeleon missed almost all of 2017 after being hit in the head with a line drive, causing a brain injury which required emergency surgery. He’s come back healthy and more effective than ever this year, posting a 2.15 ERA in 92 innings in Triple-A before his promotion with a 103/48 K/BB and just 66 hits allowed. Poncedeleon is listed at 6-4, 185, born January 16th, 1992. At age 26 he’s not young as prospects go but that is less important for pitchers than hitters. The basic scouting outlines from two years ago haven’t changed much: he goes at hitters with a 90-96 MPH fastball, averaging just under 94. His change-up is effective and helps the fastball play up. He can use both two-seam and four-seam fastballs to give hitters different looks, plus his cutter is a better pitch than it was when I last saw him back in A-ball in ‘15. The broad outlines of his arsenal haven’t really changed but everything seems more consistent than it was early in his career. The command will still wobble at times but overall the package works. I think he can be a viable four/five starter and would most likely do well if switched to the bullpen.<doc-sep>
Baseball can be a tough business. That’s especially true when you’re a rookie with options left. It’s especially true when you’re a pitcher in an age when teams shuttle fresh arms back and forth between the minors because they feel like the need nine relievers on staff at any given time. Unless you’re on a guaranteed deal with some tenure, you’re gonna be on the bus or plane back to Triple-A a time or six before you establish yourself. That’s what Cardinals pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon learned a couple hours ago. Poncedeleon, if you were unaware, made his big league debut last night. It came 14 months after he suffered a head injury on a comebacker that nearly killed him, fracturing his skull, causing bleeding on the brain and leading to emergency surgery. And some debut it was: he tossed seven no-hit innings against the Reds. He was at 116 pitches when he was pulled so it’s not like he had a legitimate shot at a full no-hitter, bit it was a fantastic MLB debut all the same. Then this: The #STLCards have recalled rookie LHP Austin Gomber from Memphis (AAA) and optioned RHP Daniel Poncedeleon to triple-A. Gomber, 24, will be making his first Major League start tonight in Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/hGoAUnGoLa — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 24, 2018 This was obviously not the Cardinals hating on Poncedeleon — they just need the fresh arm and Poncedeleon was not gonna be available for a couple of days regardless — but it’s still kinda sad. After a start like he had last night you’d hope he’d get another night or two at the nice big league hotels with the big league meal money and all of that. Now it’s back to the bushes. He’ll be back. Follow @craigcalcaterra