The Hanwha Eagles of South Korean professional baseball welcomed new foreign pitcher KODI Ponce (31), who made an impressive debut.

On the 23rd, Ponce started the practice game against the Chiba Lotte Marines at the Nishizaki Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, pitching three innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out two while not allowing any runs. Though Hanwha lost 2-4, they were pleased with Ponce's performance.

In the first inning, Ponce allowed a single to Chiba Lotte's leadoff hitter Koshirou Wada but managed to take the first out with the help of catcher Choi Jae-hoon's second base steal prevention. He then induced Ikeda Raito into a ground out to second base and struck out Nakamura Shogo with a changeup, finishing the inning.

In the second inning, Ponce retired Yamamoto Daito with a fly out to center field and induced Takeda Aito into a pop fly to second base. However, possibly due to a strong wind, second baseman Ahn Chi-hong missed the drop point, resulting in an error that allowed a runner to reach base. After retiring Ishigaki Masami with a fly out to left field, Ponce walked Chatani Kenta after a full count, leading to a two-out, one-on, two-on threat. However, he induced Ueda Kuito into a ground out to third base, escaping the scoring threat.

In the third inning, Ponce fielded a ground ball from Miyazaki Ryusei. He calmly went after a sharply hit ball toward the first base line, and despite an awkward movement, delivered an accurate throw to first base. He then handled Wada with a ground ball to second on the first pitch before striking out Ikeda with a big breaking curve, ending the inning in order. His pitch count for the three innings was only 40.

At 198 cm and 115 kg, Ponce showcased an impressive repertoire, including a fastball that reaches 152 km/h, a big-breaking curve, and a changeup that drops like a forkball. Praise for his breaking pitches had been abundant since the first spring training camp in Australia, indicating their effectiveness in actual games. His ability to throw strikes even in unfavorable pitch counts was also impressive. His slide step was quick, and his defensive actions after pitching were smooth.

Ponce is a key acquisition for Hanwha, filling the KBO's new foreign player salary cap of $1 million. He is a right-handed power pitcher capable of throwing up to 157 km/h, recognized for his clean delivery, stamina, and ability to use breaking pitches effectively. With three years of experience in Japanese professional baseball, including a no-hitter with the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2022, he is expected to become a strong one-two punch for Hanwha alongside Ryu Hyun-jin, as long as he remains healthy.

On the previous day (22nd), new foreign batter Esteban Florial made a strong statement in a practice game against the Hanshin Tigers' second team, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run. Following suit, Ponce also pitched three scoreless innings, creating optimism for the season.

However, on this day, Hanwha lost to Chiba Lotte 2-4. The second pitcher to appear after Ponce, Bae Dong-hyun, struggled, allowing five hits (including two home runs) and four runs in ⅓ inning. However, the remaining relief pitchers—Seong Ji-hoon (1⅓ innings), Park Bu-seong (1⅓ innings), Han Seung-hyuk (1 inning), Kim Do-bin (1 inning), and Jeong Woo-joo (1 inning)—all pitched scoreless outings. Rookie Jeong Woo-joo made a strong impression by retiring three left-handed batters in the ninth inning on just nine pitches.

In the batting lineup, cleanup hitter No Si-hwan broke the team's scoreless streak. In the seventh inning, he hit a solo home run over the right field fence by pushing a high pitch from Chiba Lotte's right-handed Futaki Kota. Following his previous game against Hanshin, this marked his second consecutive game with a home run. Chae Eun-sung, Kim Tae-yeon, Lee Jae-won, and Yido also each recorded a hit.