Pittsburgh Pirates: Is Gregory Polanco Days Away From MLB Debut?
By Matt Shetler
Feb 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco (62) smiles after he hit a solo home run during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates fans may get their wish soon in terms of seeing prized prospect Gregory Polanco in a Pirates uniform.
According to a report from SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo, Polanco could the call sometime during the Pirates next home stand, which begin June 6 with a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Source close to situation says to expect Polanco callup during Pirates homestand 6/6-6/12. "I dont see them promoting him while on the road"
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 2, 2014
When Polanco does arrive in Pittsburgh he will be batting in the leadoff spot, something he has done the past two games in Indianapolis, where all he did was go 4 for 10, score four runs and steal three bases before Monday.
On the season Polanco has posted an insane .350/.411/.548 line to go along with six homers, 46 RBI and 14 steals in 55 games played.
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At the end of the day, like most expected, the Pirates will feel that Polanco is ready for the majors as soon as the Super 2 cutoff date passes.
Polanco has had as much hype surrounding him than any other prospect in the past decade-plus. Polanco was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in baseball, according to ESPN’s Keith Law.
The Pirates called up Gerrit Cole last year on June 10 and by the time next season ends will have two years and 111 days of service time, which in all likelihood keeps him safe from Super 2 status. Since the Super 2 cutoff date has never been lower than two years, 122 days in recent memory, which happened in both the 2010 and 2013 seasons, you have to think that Cole is safe from Super 2 as well.
Judging by that and Polanco should already be safe from reaching the dreaded Super 2. The Pirates also aren’t going to call the kid up on the road, so if a move is going to happen, I would expect to see it this upcoming home stand.
The Pirates may take some heat over the timing as I can already hear the “same old cheap Pirates” comments.
But at the end of the day Polanco could be on his way to Pittsburgh and fans should embrace that.