Polanco competed in showcases,and played as a pitcher due to his being left-handed. He was asked to rotate to the outfield due to a shortage of players,and found that he preferred the position.[2] Polanco signed as an international free agent with the Pirates on April 11,2009.[3]
The Pirates added Polanco to their 40-man roster on November 20,2013,to protect him from being selected by another team in the Rule 5 Draft.[10] On March 14,2014,the Pirates optioned Polanco to Indianapolis.[2]
Polanco was called up to MLB on June 9,2014,due to an appendix injury to second baseman Neil Walker[11] and made his MLB debut on June 10 playing right field.[12] In that game,he recorded his first career MLB hit against Chicago Cubs pitcher Travis 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 the Miami 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 since Roberto Clemente in 1955—to record a hit 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,the Pittsburgh Pirates announced they had reached an agreement with Polanco and his agent Rafa Nieves on a $35million 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 for COVID-19.[23][24][25] In the pandemic 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]
Toronto Blue Jays (2021)
On August 31,2021,Polanco signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[31] Polanco played in 24 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons,hitting .374 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs. Polanco became a free agent following the season.
Polanco is from Villa 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.
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