Jorge Luis Pacheco Polanco (born July 5, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2014 and was an MLB All-Star in 2019. He also played with the Seattle Mariners
| Jorge Polanco | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Polanco with the Minnesota Twins in 2017 | |
| Free agent | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: July 5, 1993 San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 26, 2014, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 128 |
| Runs batted in | 492 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Career
editMinnesota Twins
editPolanco signed with the Minnesota Twins as an international free agent in 2009. He made his debut in 2010 for the Dominican Summer League Twins. He also played for the Gulf Coast Twins that year and hit .233./303/.294 overall. He remained with the Gulf Coast Twins in 2011, hitting .250/.319/.349 in 51 games. Playing for the Elizabethton Twins in 2012, he hit .318/.388/.514 with five home runs in 51 games.[1] He played the 2013 season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels hitting .308/.362/.452 and five home runs in 115 games. After the season, he played for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.[2] In November he was added to the Twins 40-man roster.[3] Polanco started the 2014 season with the Fort Myers Miracle.
Polanco was called up to the majors for the first time on June 26, 2014.[4] Polanco totaled a combined 9 games between 2014 and the 2015 season with the Twins. He got his first extensive look in the majors in 2016, when he played in 69 games. He hit .282 with 4 home runs and 27 runs batted in. The following season, Polanco was the primary shortstop for the whole season for the Twins, hitting .256 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs in 133 games.
On March 18, 2018, Polanco was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug and was also ineligible for postseason play.[5] He was reinserted as the Twins shortstop upon his return from suspension. In 77 games, he hit .288 with 6 home runs and 42 RBIs.
During spring training in 2019, Polanco signed a five-year contract extension with the Twins worth $25.75 million and club options for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.[6] On April 5, Polanco hit for the cycle against the Philadelphia Phillies, going 5-for-5 with one RBI in a 10–4 loss.[7] Polanco was the American League starting shortstop in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[8] On the season, Polanco finished with a .295 batting average in 153 games. He hit 22 home runs, drove in 79 RBI and scored 107 runs. In 2020, Polanco hit .258 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI in 55 games.
In 2021, the Twins signed Andrelton Simmons to play shortstop and Polanco became a second baseman.[9] Polanco batted .269/.323/.503 and set career highs with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs.
During the 2023 season, Polanco played as a third baseman to accommodate Edouard Julien.[10]
Seattle Mariners
editOn January 29, 2024, the Twins traded Polanco to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Anthony DeSclafani, Justin Topa, Gabriel González, Darren Bowen, and cash considerations.[11] In 118 games for Seattle, he slashed .213/.296/.355 with 16 home runs and 45 RBI. On October 10, Polanco underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee.[12] On November 1, the Mariners declined his option for 2025 making him a free agent.
Personal life
editPolanco is married to Lucero Polanco. They have three children together.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tribune, La Velle E. Neal III Star. "Twins minor league report: Teenager Polanco tearing up Cedar Rapids". Star Tribune.
- ^ Press, Mike Berardino | Pioneer (September 12, 2013). "Twins prospect Jorge Polanco drafted No. 3 for winter league".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Twins add four players to 40-man roster". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Twins recall A-ball infielder Jorge Polanco, option Yohan Pino". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
- ^ Neal III, La Velle E.; Miller, Phil (March 18, 2018). "Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco suspended 80 games for PED use". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ "Sources: Twins extending Polanco, Kepler deals". ESPN.com. February 14, 2019.
- ^ "First cycle of 2019 belongs to Jorge Polanco". MLB.com. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
- ^ "All-Star starters revealed: Astros lead with three". June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Polanco: 'I can be pretty dang good at 2B'". MLB.com.
- ^ "Transition to third base a work in progress for Twins' Jorge Polanco". West Central Tribune. August 3, 2023.
- ^ Kramer, Daniel (January 30, 2024). "Mariners acquire Jorge Polanco from Twins". MLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "Source: Mariners' Jorge Polanco undergoes knee surgery". espn.com=en. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jorge Polanco #11". MLB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Jorge Polanco on Instagram