(Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images)

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce has been diagnosed with a sprained right ACL and will miss significant time, manager John Schneider said on Tuesday.

Ponce, 31, made his first big-league appearance since 2021 on Monday night in a start against the visiting Colorado Rockies. He injured his knee while trying to field a grounder in the third inning and fell to the ground in pain. Ponce left on a cart as the Rockies went on to win 14-5.

The Blue Jays said doctors are reviewing the MRI to determine the extent of the damage, including a possible tear.

'I talked to him for a while last night, up until about 1 in the morning,' Schneider said. 'He's got a pretty good perspective. He's frustrated, for sure, but I think he has a good perspective on it. The person in me just hates it for him. His first outing, weird play, all of that. But he's handling it OK.'

Surgery is possible, though Schneider said the organization isn't ruling out Ponce's return this season.

'That's what we're holding onto,' Schneider said, 'until we have all of the opinions. I think there's probably a slight chance of that.'

Ponce allowed one hit, one run and one walk with three strikeouts, one wild pitch and one balk in 2 1/3 innings during his first major league appearance since Oct. 3, 2021, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent the last five years pitching in Japan and South Korea.

He signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Toronto after starring in the Korean Baseball Organization. The right-hander entered the day 1-7 with a 5.86 ERA in 20 career MLB appearances (five starts) for the Pirates (2020-21).

Toronto's starting rotation already has Shane Bieber (forearm fatigue), Jose Berrios (elbow stress fracture) and Trey Yesavage (shoulder impingement) on the injured list.

--Field Level Media