Sunday, March 17, 2024

Ed Ponte made AA, then wanted to get back, saw 9 seasons

Ed Ponte 1990 Osceola Astros card

After seeing AA twice earlier, Astros minor leaguer Ed Ponte found himself back at single-A to start 1993, The Moline Dispatch wrote.

Ponte just wanted to be back at AA, making progress, he told The Dispatch that April.

"I would like to be out of here by next month," Ponte told The Dispatch. "I want to put up as good of numbers as possible."

Ponte, though, never made it back to AA. He played three more seasons in independent ball, for 9 campaigns total. He topped out in those AA trips.

Ponte's career began in 1988, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota.

Ponte started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He moved to single-A Asheville for 1989, where he went 11-3, with a 3.27 ERA in 42 relief appearances.

He played 1990 between high-A Osceola and AA Columbus. He saw 18 relief appearances at Columbus and went 1-2, with a 3.00 ERA.

Ponte played 1991 back at Osceola and then 1992 between single-A Burlington, Osceola and AA Jackson. He went 4-6 on the year, with a 2.83 ERA in 70 total appearances, one start.

In May 1993, The South Bend Tribune referenced Ponte's return to the Midwest League and described him as a sidearm pitcher. 

"From a hitter's standpoint, it can be more difficult," Ponte told The Tribune of his delivery. "The arm angle is tough. Right-handed have to peek to the left. They don't have as much time to pick up the ball." 

Ponte saw 39 relief outings for Quad City that year, went 4-6 and saved 17 games.

He's next created as playing in 1997 at independent Waterbury. He returned to Waterbury for 1998 and saw Taiwan, playing five games with Brother. He then ended his career in 1999 with independent Allentown and Sioux City. 

Ed Ponte 1990 Osceola Astros card

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,328
Made the Majors:1,398-32.3%
Never Made Majors:2,930-67.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:569
10+ Seasons in the Minors:351

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