Jorge Polanco 2.0: A Hitter Reimagined

[Matthew Trueblood]

His legs are disloyal, and his arm isn’t what it used to be. Once the tip of the spear as the Twins thrust back from rebuilding to contention, he’s now on his third position and his ninth life. He’s had to completely reinvent himself at the plate over the last two seasons. Yet, he’s as good as ever. This is not the fall of Jorge Polanco. Instead, this October might just be The Fall of Jorge Polanco.

 

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

In his prime, Jorge Polanco was an athletic enough shortstop whose only serious deficiency was his throwing arm. That carried over to his work in the batter’s box, too. Polanco used to run pretty well, and it was an important part of his game. From 2017-21, Polanco averaged 17 infield hits and four more via bunt per season–and those averages were pulled down by the truncated season in 2020. Because of those skills, he developed an approach focused on hitting line drives, and on making contact.

That aspect of his game is gone. Polanco’s average Sprint Speed, according to Statcast, has dropped from well above-average to slightly below, and the capacity he used to have for hitting an extra gear when he smelled a hit is kaput. He has just 13 infield hits on swings and two via bunt since the start of 2022, and he last had a competitive run in which he reached the elite speed threshold set by Baseball Savant early last season. 

It’s normal for this to happen, but Polanco resisted the trend at first. Then, he was pulled with unusual suddenness down into the mud where older players run, because of the ankle injury he battled for years. Now, he deals with semi-chronic ankle, knee, and hamstring trouble, and speed just isn’t a significant asset for him.

The slower, balkier legs are the result of injuries, but Polanco has also had to contend with slightly slowing hands and eyes, for which the only blame we can assign goes to the frailty of the human condition. He’s only 30, but 30 is the new 35 in MLB, and that whip-quick, line-drive swing with the high contact rate is fading into memory, from both sides of the plate. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that, with a high baseball IQ and a work ethic that matches it, Polanco has reimagined himself at the plate. He needed a swing adjustment and an approach adjustment, and because he’s a switch-hitter, that really meant he needed two swing adjustments and two approach adjustments. However many that adds up to, he made all of them. Despite lingering injury trouble, he’s boosted himself to a batting line of .260/.342/.467 this year. If he’s producing any worse than he did at his peak a few years ago, it’s only by a bit. He’s radically reshaped his production, but not lost it. Let’s talk about how.

You rarely see the data presented this way, but I think it’s important to do so. Let’s break Polanco up into the two hitters who really live within him, one from each side of the plate. First, here are some key statistics for him as a right-handed batter (facing lefty pitchers), from 2019 through last week.

This article continues with a deeper dive of how Polanco has become a very different player, but it is exclusively for Twins Daily caretakers. To become a Caretaker and read the rest of the piece, you can subscribe here. You'll support the writers that provide you free Twins stories and analysis every day, both in-season and offseason. 

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[John Belinski]

He started slow this season, but has played better the second half of season.

[JD-TWINS]

Glad we have his glove at 2nd while Julien develops………may need it at 3B if Royce is out very long.

Solid hitter that extends our line-up with other competent guys like Kirilloff - Solano - etc.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Good article Matthew. Thanks for all the interesting stats. and the resulting conclusions.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Really interesting. Matches the eye test - Polanco has gone from a line drive, contact, doubles hitter to a more fly ball power hitter who sings and misses more. Also, kind of explains why he has so much more trouble against a high velocity guy like Greene yesterday but is much better and more dangerous against more "normal" 90-96 mph fastballs. 

I'd really be interested in whether there are similar changes in Kepler's profile. He's changed things you can see like being much better at going the opposite way. I'd be really interested if there was any data on the changes he's made to go from borderline unplayable in May and June to borderline All Star status in July and August. Both guys needed to change their approach to stay relevant and productive and both did. There's a lesson in there for us as more than casual fans. Sometimes you do have to see if there's changes in the process and then trust the process, or at least give it a chance to work. 

[GeorgiaBaller]

I admire the guys that can adapt to keep themselves relevant.  Kepler was mentioned above.  If you look back at Kepler's best year (2019 under James Rowson) at the plate, he did the same thing he is doing this year and hit deeper in the zone, reached and went the other way instead of trying to pull for power all the time. Power swing has to change depending on the count.  The great hitters choked up and shortened their swings with 2 strikes---different approach.

If you have not seen the Bally special with Mauer and Morneau with a hitting tee and breaking down old at-bats, its worth a watch.  I had forgotten how much of an upper body, wide stance, late in the zone hitter Joe Mauer was.  He would still be criticized today because he doesn't hit enough home runs---but that late in zone contact going the other way batted in lots of runs and perpetuated lots of rallies.  I see the adjustments Polanco and Morneau much the same---neither will be a Mauer, but the approach matters.

Wow--now 30 is old man status.  When top prospects don't make it the THE BIG SHOW until 24 or 25, that makes a short window.  guess that is why the greats break in between 19-22!  

[RpR]

Some still hit their prime,  from 30-35, with a number that have a best year early 30s.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Great article!  I feel like Polanco’s presence in the lineup has been a steadying factor for years.  He generally isn’t the most powerful guy in the lineup, nor is he the highest OB guy in the lineup.  He’s just that professional hitter who makes adjustments and gets the job done.  When the group with Polanco, Rosario, Kepler, and Sano all came up, I would have never guessed that ultimately Polanco would become the most valuable to the Twins and would have the longest career with the team, but I think it is true.  He has figured out ways to stay relevant to the team and keep on contributing even has his body has changed.

[Parker Hageman]

Quote

Also, kind of explains why he has so much more trouble against a high velocity guy like Greene yesterday but is much better and more dangerous against more "normal" 90-96 mph fastballs. 

SSS and all but he's actually doing quite well against 97+ fastballs as a lefty this year. He's also had only one strikeout on a fastball 97+ in 12 plate appearances. He struck out 8 times in 21 plate appearances in 2021. 

 

 

[Althebum82]

He really did make an impression with his initial call-up (from AA if I remember correctly) where he was mostly used for his speed as a pinch runner but did manage to get a lightning-fast triple as well as a double in 6 at bats.  Glad he is on our side and that he has overcome two stints on the IL this year to have a significant contribution to this team's success!

[stringer bell]

Very interesting posting. Polanco remains a fine offensive player with the adjustments he has made. What concerns me is that he is only 30 years old and his raw skills have diminished so much. Is this someone the Twins invest in long term? I think not and perhaps he should be moved before Father Time completes his assault on Polanco's tools. 

I think of Brian Dozier as a player who aged rapidly and wonder if the same would happen to Jorge. 

[Fat Calvin]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Very interesting posting. Polanco remains a fine offensive player with the adjustments he has made. What concerns me is that he is only 30 years old and his raw skills have diminished so much. Is this someone the Twins invest in long term? I think not and perhaps he should be moved before Father Time completes his assault on Polanco's tools. 

I think of Brian Dozier as a player who aged rapidly and wonder if the same would happen to Jorge. 

I don't think anyone is talking about a long-term deal.  The big question is whether or not to extend him for 2024.  With his veteran presence and steady production, I think the risk of Polanco aging badly from age 30 to 31 is definitely worth taking.  I'd like to see both Polanco and Kepler playing for the Twins in 2024.

[IaBeanCounter]

9 hours ago, GeorgiaBaller said:

I admire the guys that can adapt to keep themselves relevant.  Kepler was mentioned above.  If you look back at Kepler's best year (2019 under James Rowson) 

I didn't realize Rowson is now the assistant batting coach for Detroit.  I wish he was still with the Twins.