Pirates: Evolution of Gregory Polanco
By Rich Donahue
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue their road trip when they take their talents to South Beach for a 4 game series against the Miami Marlins.
When Gregory Polanco was called up to the show midway through the 2014 season, expectations could not have been higher. One of the top prospects in the Pirates organization, the Dominican outfielder was hailed as five tool player. Built like a former Met’s superstar Darryl Strawberry, fans were salivating about his addition to an already potent outfield.
It was not all roses for Polanco in his first two seasons with the Pirates. He experienced his fair share of growing pains while adjusting to the major league game. There were mental lapses at the plate, on the base path and in the field. But after signing an extension that will keep him in a Pirates uniform through 2023, it seems the flower is beginning to blossom.
Polanco is off to a torrid pace in 2016. After hitting a meager .246 with 16 home runs and 85 RBI to begin his professional career, the 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .311 with 7 home runs and 31 RBI in 47 games this season. He also leads the national league in runs scored with 36.
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The right fielder really began to take off when Clint Hurdle moved him into the third spot of the lineup. Since moving right behind Andrew McCutchen, Polanco is hitting .338 with 3 homers, 14 RBI and slugging an incredible .606. Coming in 2016, his career slugging percentage was .362; it has soared by nearly .200 to .550 this year. This is largely due to his NL leading 18 doubles.
What is most impressive of Polanco’s hot start has been is improved plate discipline. He is showing great patience this season, working counts in his favor, waiting for the right pitch to hit. Polanco has drawn 25 walks in 2016; his .391 on-base percentage leads the Pirates.
His surge in production has not limited Polanco’s speed on the base paths. A long strider, he had 41 steals coming into 2016 and has tallied 7 swipes so far this year. He still has brain farts from time to time when on base, but it has been a lot less this season than in year’s past.
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If Polanco continues to perform at this all-star level, he should earn himself his first trip to the mid-summer classic in San Diego. The young outfielder is blossoming before our very eyes. This isn’t just a phase so get used to it Pirate fans, El Coffee is going to stay hot for years to come.