Gregory Polanco wasn’t on many people’s radars at this time last year. The right fielder was just making the jump from high-A Bradenton to AA Altoona. What he has done since then has possibly changed the course of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for at least the next four years.
Polanco is currently posting a .387 (12-for-31)/.484/.890 line in his six games as a Pirate with seven runs and 5 RBI. He also has one home run, which proved to be the difference maker in a 13-inning victory over the Marlins on June 13th.
Prior to matching a mark that only Roberto Clemente has held — recording a hit in his first six games as a Pirate — Polanco didn’t know the date of his call up until it was announced to him by Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor following their AAA game on June 9th. It wasn’t the team’s intentions to call him up until Neil Walker went down with appendicitis.
“I had no idea and I didn’t know,” said Polanco. “They just said to keep playing hard and keep doing what you’re doing and your time is going to come. I’m very grateful and very happy to be here. My manager told me ‘Gregory, you’re going to Pittsburgh tomorrow.’ and I was like ‘Oh’. It was a big surprise.”
The first person to find out about the call up –other than his AAA teammates and coaches — was his mother, who he called immediately. His family however, was unable to make the trip to PNC Park for his debut, but it didn’t take away from the experience of walking into the ballpark and playing for the first time as a Major Leaguer.
“It felt great,” said Polanco. “It was something because I’ve been waiting all my life and I made it, so it made me feel proud of myself and my family. I didn’t think [the promotion] would be that fast, but you never know in baseball. I work hard, I play hard and to be where I want to be, I thank God for everything.”
Another group that is happy the prospect is in town are his new teammates. His play has already lifted the top of the order while his defense could give the Pirates the best outfield in the league once he becomes accustomed to playing in front of the Clemente wall. It’s a new position for him, but it’s nothing that he’s worried about.
“The toughest part about being in right is the angle of the ball off of right-handed hitters,” said Polanco. “When they hit it, it goes towards the line. It’s different, but not that different.”
Polanco was surely up for the challenge when told he would play in right due to the fact that it is the same position Roberto Clemente played as a Pirate. It’s an honor that he does not take lightly and hopes it drives him more to be the player everyone thinks he can be.
“It is special and I feel proud to play in the position where Clemente played and I’m happy to be playing there and I’m going to give it all I got in me,” said Polanco. “When you work hard and you know you want it, you try to work hard everyday and know in your heart that one day, you are going to make it where you want to be.”
(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar)
