Former NAIA star Daniel Ponce de Leon wraps up first MLB season

After being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Daniel Poncedeleon made his major-league debut during the 2018 season.

What a debut it was.

Poncedeleon, a former star at NAIA member institution Embry-Riddle, pitched seven innings of no-hit ball in his debut against the Cincinnati Reds on July 23. Because of his pitch count, Poncedeleon was pulled after the seventh inning in a game the Cardinals eventually lost, 2-1. 

While St. Louis didn't make the postseason -- it was eliminated on Sunday -- the 26-year old rookie from La Mirada, Calif., proved to be a steady addition to the Cardinals' rotation and bullpen in limited duty.

In 11 appearances with four starts, Poncedeleon posted a 2.72 ERA over 33 innings. That includes a 1.12 WHIP. While Poncedeleon went 0-2 on the season, he also added a save. 

What makes his 2018 season all the more impressive was that his debut came a year after being struck in the head with a line drive, necessitating brain surgery.