Jorge Polanco - 2015

[Mill1634]

Jorge Polanco

 

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2013/0913/20130913__Polanco,%20Jorge.jpg

 

Position: 2nd base and Shortstop 

 

Height/Weight: 5'11" 200 LBS

 

Handness (B/T): S/R

 

Age: 21 Years old (July 5th, 1993)

 

Signed: In 2009 as an international free agent. 

 

Prospect rank:

 

MLB.Com Rank - 7th 

 

"Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 35 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

The fact Polanco was called up to the big leagues to help out for a brief spell in 2014 may have been a bit surprising. The fact the young middle infielder handled himself like a veteran during his five-game stay surprised no one.

While his Major League debut was a stopgap measure, there's little question Polanco will get back to the highest level for a much longer stay soon. Much of that is because of his advanced bat. A switch-hitter, Polanco has a great approach at the plate, making consistent contact to all fields with some slowly developing extra-base pop. A solid average to tick-above-average runner, Polanco played mostly second base early in his career. He started focusing on shortstop in 2014, and he has the range and hands to play there, with an average arm, and he's working on his footwork to allow his throws to have more carry across the infield.

Polanco has the skills to be an everyday shortstop, and the Twins know he can shift back to second base at any time and become a big league regular on the right side of the infield as well."

 

BaseballAmerica.com Rank - 10th

 

Bleacherreport Rank - 8th

"Jorge Polanco continued to hit his way up the organizational ladder in 2014, batting .288 in 131 games between the High- and Double-A levels and even receiving a taste of the major leagues during a five-game stint with the Twins.

The 21-year-old switch-hitter has an outstanding hit tool, as he consistently makes solid contact and laces line drives from line to line. His short stride and small frame limits his power potential, but Polanco should always be a regular source of doubles and triples.

Although he can hold his own at shortstop, Polanco’s arm strength is better suited for second base, where his range plays up."

 

2015 Assignment: Jorge Polanco will begin the season with Chattanooga.

 

Twitter: @JorgePolanco1

 

 

[Mill1634]

Important Dates

 

July 5th, 1993: Jorge is born

2009: Polanco signs with the Twins

June 26th, 2014: Polanco makes MLB Debut with the Twins

June 30th, 2014: Polanco optioned to Fort Meyers Miracle 

[Mill1634]

Polanco Starts out season with a bang

 

Chattanooga began their season Thursday night, heading to Montgomery.  Jorge Polanco, a 21 year old shortstop is the star of the series here on Twins Daily. Jorge, coming off a big year is batting 2nd in this year's lineup, behind the Twins #1 prospect Byron Buxton. Jorge is one of the teams better hitters, so the Lookouts will be relying on the top part of the order to drive in some runs.

 

Jorge Polanco did not disappoint tonight. Stepping up to the plate in the first inning Jorge singled to right field, advancing Byron Buxton to 3rd, but the inning was halted with the Lookouts stranding 2 runners on the bases. In the 3rd inning Jorge found himself back at the plate, with Buxton at first. However this time things ended the bad way. Jorge grounded into a pitchers best friend, a 6-4-3 double play, but this did not end his night. Advance to the 5th inning, and this is the inning where Jorge shows he can do it all. He steps into the left handed batters box, with a man on 2nd. Jorge jumps on the first pitch, hitting it over the center fielders head, and driving in the team's first RBI of the season. He isn't done just yet though, as he steals 2nd base showing off his wheels. Later in the inning he is drove in to make the score 2-0. His next at bat would be in the 6th inning when he grounds out to shortstop. In his final AB of the night, Jorge hit a slow roller to first, but the pitcher got to the bag just in time. 

 

The season looks bright for Jorge Polanco!

 

Jorge Polanco's stats through 1 game

.400 Average/0 HR/1 RBI/.800 OPS/1 SB

[lightfoot789]

He's a bad dude!  Boy can he turn on an inside pitch.

[Mill1634]

​Polanco leads Chattanooga to first win of season!

 

After blowing a lead in the 9th inning of last nights game, Chattanooga wanted to come out Friday night and pick up the first win of the season. Jorge Polanco did everything he could, and more to help the team reach that goal Friday. Polanco's first at-bat wasn't ideal, as he grounded out to the 2nd basemen, however he didn't let that hold him back. His 2nd at bat wasn't real great either. He had a 2-0 hitters count, but did nothing with it as he grounded out to the first basemen. This is where the fun starts. Polanco steps up to the plate, bases juiced.  After taking the first 2 pitches for balls, he took a strike to make the count 2-1. After that he would foul off the next 2, so the count was at 2-2. However, he didn't care about the count. The pitcher threw a nice pitch, down and inside but that didn't stop Polanco from hitting the ball over the right field fence driving in 4 RBI's. Advance another 2 innings, and were in the Top of the 7th inning. Polanco up to bat again, and he works another 6 pitch at-bat, this time ending it with a double on a line drive to right field. The key for Polanco is getting into hitters counts. He did that again in his final at bat in the 9th inning. Polanco had a 2-1 count, in his favor when he pulls the ball to right field for a single.  He also stole 2nd base, which is also is 3rd stolen base of the year. He later came around to score in the inning. Chattanooga won the game 6-2, and Polanco played a huge role. 

 

Jorge Polanco's Season Stats through 2 games

.500 Average/1 HR/5 RBI/1.400 OPS/3 SB

[Mill1634]

Lookouts win again, Polanco cools off

 

The Lookouts were in action once again Saturday night, in game 3 against Montgomery. After splitting the first 2 games, the Lookouts wanted to jump ahead to a 2-1 series lead, and Jorge Polanco wanted to do everything he could to help the team achieve that goal. His first at bat was a sharply hit line drive to the right fielder, but it was caught so he had nothing to show for it. Now up to bat in the third inning, Polanco jumps on the 3rd pitch he see's, but it goes off the end of his bat as he rolls it towards 1st and is out. His 3rd at bat was not much better as he struck out swinging after fouling off 2 pitches earlier in the at bat. In the 7th inning, Jorge worked himself another long at bat, but this time he came out on the right side of things. He singled on a ground ball through the Shortstop and 3rd baseman, but did not come around to score for the inning. In his final at bat of the night, Polanco ground into a double play after hitting the first pitch. One thing Jorge needs to work on so he can get to the Big League is working the count. In the at-bats where he takes a couple pitches, he usually has a better outcome, while when jumping on the first or second pitch it doesn't end well. It's still safe to say he will succeed with the Twins someday. The Lookouts won the game 4-3. 

 

Jorge Polanco's Season Stats through 3 Games

.400 Average/1 HR/5 RBI/1.067 OPS/3 SB

[Mill1634]

Lookouts win, Polanco has rough day

 

The Lookout's looked to take the first series of the year Sunday afternoon.  Hit's were hard to come by in the first few innings but the Lookouts cruised to the finish line. Once again, we will star up and coming Shortstop Jorge Polanco. Sunday was a rough day with Polanco going 1-5, with a strikeout. He also left 4 runners on base. This is just a small sample size however. In the one hit that he did have, he jumped on the first pitch. This has been a common theme through the Lookouts first few games. Polanco takes an "aggressive first pitch" attitude to the plate. This can hurt, or it can help. So far it has hurt him this season, but maybe after today it will help. Polanco will look to improve tomorrow, as they finish the series with Montgomery. 

 

Jorge Polanco's Season Stats through 4 Games

.350 Average/1 HR/5 RBI/.900 OPS/3 SB

[Patrick Midthun]

We saw him play in Dunedin, at the Blue Jays' complex. He has game-changing speed. Can't wait until this next group of raw talent comes up. It will be "get to know 'em" - part two. 

[Mill1634]

 

We saw him play in Dunedin, at the Blue Jays' complex. He has game-changing speed. Can't wait until this next group of raw talent comes up. It will be "get to know 'em" - part two. 

If he ever gets up...We already have Dozier and Santana at the positions he plays. Twins are in a good spot...Just have to choose, Do we trade Dozier for something, or do we trade Polanco for something. I'm personally not sure what I would do. 

[stringer bell]

What about Polanco's speed?  Someone called his speed "game changing" but I saw him play myself and scouting reports also put his speed at "above-average".  Eddie Rosario is another guy who has been classified as a burner by some and about average by others.  Yet another example is Aaron Hicks.  I hope I haven't totally hijacked this thread, but I would like to know the true rating for speed of some of these guys.

[Mill1634]

 

What about Polanco's speed?  Someone called his speed "game changing" but I saw him play myself and scouting reports also put his speed at "above-average".  Eddie Rosario is another guy who has been classified as a burner by some and about average by others.  Yet another example is Aaron Hicks.  I hope I haven't totally hijacked this thread, but I would like to know the true rating for speed of some of these guys.

Well he has 3 steals off AA Catchers so take that however you want too. 

[Seth Stohs]

From the Twins Daily Twitter Account this morning BEFORE he had four hits today:

 

 

 

Twins Daily @twinsdaily  ·  14h 14 hours ago
Jorge Polanco, in his last 12 games, is hitting .327/.389/.510 (.899) with three doubles and two homers.

 

[drjim]

Some thoughts from Ben Badler:

Jack (Minn): You were very high on Jorge Polanco over the winter - I think you had him in your Top 50. But he seems to get very minimal Top 100 consideration from anybody else. He's have a very strong year in AA. What are the key things about his game that you value and other people seem to be missing?

 

Ben Badler: Lack of flashiness, or the lack of one LOUD tool that’s easy to see if you go in and see a guy for one game or one series, and probably an overemphasis within the industry of what it means if a guy might have to move off shortstop to second base (or even third base). And, I suppose, just the fact that hitting is always a challenging skill to project and evaluate. But Polanco’s a gamer, he controls the barrel, has feel for hitting, understands the strike zone and he has enough power even if it’s more of a doubles threat than a home run hitter. A player having a bunch of plus tools is great, but sometimes tools can be very overrated. I’m a big Polanco fan.

 

 

[Willihammer]

I've always liked Polanco from an age/level/statistics standpoint and so has JAVIER which ranked him as having the highest chance of being a "productive" player in the Twins system based on his performance through 2013 (17.6%). I imagine that hasn't changed much based on his performance since then.

[Shane Wahl]

Polanco has come down to earth in Rochester after his promotion. He has posted a .661 OPS and has struggled defensively. There is no need to mess this up now with a promotion to the Twins.

 

2016 ST should be a full tryout at the SS position for the Twins, and I bet that Polanco wins it.