Ponce de Leon is projected to primarily log middle-relief work during any 2020 season that unfolds, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Goold lists Ponce de Leon as one of the Cardinals' natural middle relievers now that Miles Mikolas (forearm) is expected to be ready from the onset of a delayed regular season and Kwang-Hyun Kim is projected to round out a likely six-man rotation. Ponce de Leon is a natural for a multi-inning bullpen role, considering he has no shortage of starting experience at both the minor- and major-league levels and has proven effective as both a reliever and occasional member of the rotation. The 28-year-old reinforced his candidacy for a big-league roster spot by posting an 0.69 ERA across four Grapefuit League appearances before spring training was suspended.