“We deal with a lot of different injuries in our game, but not one that you’re usually reflecting on someone’s future in terms of living or dying,” said Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations.
In a start for Triple-A Memphis on May 9, 2017, Poncedeleon took a line drive off his head while pitching against the Iowa Cubs. He needed emergency surgery on his brain, which was bleeding and swelling, but ultimately made a full comeback. He saw game action during spring training for the first time since his injury.
Now, a little over a year removed from the liner up the middle, Poncedeleon is on the Cardinals’ big league roster.