Most of the time, when a baseball player makes his major league debut, it’s not a leading headline. Then again, most Triple-A ballplayers don’t endure brain surgery 14 months prior to their big-time moment like Daniel Poncedeleon did.

The 26-year-old pitcher was struck in the right temple by a line drive in May of 2017, and needed immediate life-saving surgery and weeks in the intensive care unit following the scary incident.

That’s why when the St. Louis Cardinals called him, his family and friends quickly made the trip to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati to watch him square off against the Reds.

And boy, was the trip worth it. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Poncedeleon became just the fifth pitcher since the 1961 Expansion Era to throw a no-hitter through seven innings of his major league debut.

He threw a total of 116 pitches, surrendering three walks and striking out three batters before his reliever came in.

“I don’t know if words can describe that. Talk about magical,” said Mike Shildt, the Cardinals interim manager. “What he dealt with, what he has come back from, making his MLB debut, throwing seven innings without giving up a hit — that’s what’s magical about this game and special about this game is stories like that.”

It was a thrill for so many in the stadium, particularly Poncedeleon’s father, Ramon. Knowing the significance of who was on the mound, a fan who was sitting close to Ramon, snagged a foul ball and, rather than keeping the souvenir for himself, he immediately delivered it to the proud father.

 

 

Unfortunately, Poncedeleon was sent back to Triple-A on Tuesday so the Cardinals could make room for Austin Gomber, who will be starting Tuesday night’s game.

But, with a history-making performance under his belt, it’s likely only a matter of time before Poncedeleon returns to the big league mound and gets his first win.