| Gregory Polanco | |
|---|---|
 Polanco with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2023 | |
| Chiba Lotte Marines – No. 22 | |
| Right fielder | |
| Born: (1991-09-14)September 14, 1991 (age 34) Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: June 10, 2014, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| NPB: March 25, 2022, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| MLB statistics (through 2021 season) | |
| Batting average | .241 |
| Home runs | 96 |
| Runs batted in | 362 |
| Stolen bases | 98 |
| NPB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .241 |
| Home runs | 73 |
| Runs batted in | 193 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Gregory Polanco (born September 14, 1991), nicknamed "El Coffee",[1] is a Dominican professionalbaseballright fielder for theChiba Lotte Marines ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePittsburgh Pirates and in NPB for theYomiuri Giants.
Polanco competed in showcases, and played as apitcher due to his being left-handed. He was asked to rotate to theoutfield due to a shortage of players, and found that he preferred the position.[2] Polanco signed as an internationalfree agent with the Pirates on April 11, 2009.[3]
In 2009, he played for theDominican Pirates of theRookie-levelDominican Summer League. In 2010, he played for theGulf Coast Pirates of the Rookie-levelGulf Coast League (GCL), where he had a .202batting average. In 2011, he played for the GCL Pirates and theState College Spikes, batting .237. He spent the 2012 season with theWest Virginia Power of theClass ASouth Atlantic League. He enjoyed his best season to date, batting .325 with 16home runs and 40stolen bases.[2] He was named the South Atlantic League player of the year, and the Pirates' minor league player of the year.[4]
Prior to the 2013 season, Polanco was ranked as the 65th best prospect in baseball byMLB.com,[5] and as the 51st best prospect in baseball byBaseball America.[6] Polanco began the 2013 season with theBradenton Marauders of theClass A-AdvancedFlorida State League. With Bradenton, Polanco batted .312 with 24 stolen bases and 30runs batted in (RBIs) in 57 games, before receiving a promotion to theAltoona Curve of theClass AAEastern League.[7] In June 2013,Baseball Prospectus ranked Polanco as the 12th best prospect in baseball.[8] Polanco, along withDilson Herrera, represented the Pirates at the 2013All-Star Futures Game.[9] The Pirates promoted Polanco to theIndianapolis Indians of theClass AAAInternational League at the end of the season. He received nineat-bats with Indianapolis.[7]
The Pirates added Polanco to their40-man roster on November 20, 2013, to protect him from being selected by another team in theRule 5 Draft.[10] On March 14, 2014, the Piratesoptioned Polanco to Indianapolis.[2]
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Polanco was called up to MLB on June 9, 2014, due to an appendix injury to second basemanNeil Walker[11] and made his MLB debut on June 10 playingright field.[12] In that game, he recorded his first career MLB hit againstChicago Cubs pitcherTravis Wood, later scoring his first career MLB run. The following day, June 11, Polanco recorded his first career MLB RBI. On June 13, as part of a five-hit game, Polanco hit his first career MLB home run, a two-run shot, against theMiami Marlins in the 13th inning that would turn out to be the game winner in an 8–6 victory for the Pirates. On June 17, he became the third Pirates player—the first sinceRoberto Clemente in1955—to record ahit in each of his first seven MLB appearances.[13] The following day, he became the first Pirate to hit in his first eight games.[14] Polanco struggled for a month after a good start to his career, and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 25 before returning a week later as part of the expanded roster at the beginning of September.[15][16]
On April 5, 2016, thePittsburgh Pirates announced they had reached an agreement with Polanco and his agentRafa Nieves on a $35 million contract extension.[17] Polanco finished 2016 with 34 doubles, 22 home runs and 86 RBI.
On May 17, 2017, Polanco was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained left hamstring. The transaction was retroactive two days prior to the announcement.[18]
On September 12, 2018, Polanco underwent surgery on his dislocated shoulder and missed the remainder of the season.[19] At the time of his injury, Polanco had batted .251/.340/.499 with a career-high 23 home runs in 130 games.[20]
Polanco began the 2019 season on the injured list before returning to the Pirates in May. He slashed .242/.301/.425 in 42 games before landing on the injured list again.[21] On July 17, 2019, his rehab progress was halted due to continued shoulder discomfort and he was eventually shut down for the rest of the 2019 season.[22]
On July 17, 2020, it was announced that Polanco had tested positive forCOVID-19.[23][24][25] In thepandemic shortened 2020 season, Polanco slashed .153/.214/.325 with 65 strikeouts in 157 at-bats, while placing second in team home runs (7) and RBI (22).[26]
Polanco appeared in 107 games in 2021 for the Pirates, hitting .208 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs. On August 22, 2021, Polanco was designated for assignment by the Pirates to allow him to play for a contender.[27][28] However, Polanco cleared waivers and was re-selected to the roster.[29] On August 28, the Pirates released Polanco.[30]
Over his eight seasons in Pittsburgh, Polanco appeared in 823 games, hitting .241 with 96 home runs and 362 RBIs, while also stealing 98 bases.[citation needed]
On August 31, 2021, Polanco signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[31] Polanco played in 24 games for the Triple-ABuffalo Bisons, hitting .374 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs. Polanco became a free agent following the season.
On January 5, 2022, Polanco signed with theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball.[32]
On December 27, 2022, Polanco signed with theChiba Lotte Marines ofNippon Professional Baseball.[33]
He played in the2017 World Baseball Classic, and following the conclusion of the tournament, he was named to the2017 All-World Baseball Classic team.[34]
Polanco is fromVilla Mella,Santo Domingo, where both of his parents are police officers.[2] Polanco began dating Africa Rodriguez in 2019. Polanco and Rodriguez have one child, a boy, born March 2021.
· Baseball Almanac
