| Jorge Polanco | |
| Team: | Seattle Mariners |
| Number: | 7 |
| Position: | Infielder |
| Birth Date: | 5 July 1993 |
| Birth Place: | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Switch |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 26 |
| Debutyear: | 2014 |
| Debutteam: | Minnesota Twins |
| Statyear: | August 19, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .264 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 124 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 480 |
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| Teams: |
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Jorge Luis Pacheco Polanco (born July 5, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2014 and was an MLB All-Star in 2019.
Polanco signed with the Minnesota Twins as an international free agent in 2009. He made his debut in 2010 for the Dominican Summer League Twins. He also played for the Gulf Coast Twins that year and hit .233./303/.294 overall. He remained with the Gulf Coast Twins in 2011, hitting .250/.319/.349 in 51 games. Playing for the Elizabethton Twins in 2012, he hit .318/.388/.514 with five home runs in 51 games.[1] He played the 2013 season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels hitting .308/.362/.452 and five home runs in 115 games. After the season, he played for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.[2] In November he was added to the Twins 40-man roster.[3] Polanco started the 2014 season with the Fort Myers Miracle.
Polanco was called up to the majors for the first time on June 26, 2014.[4] Polanco totaled a combined 9 games between 2014 and the 2015 season with the Twins. He got his first extensive look in the majors in 2016, when he played in 69 games. He hit .282 with 4 home runs and 27 runs batted in. The following season, Polanco was the primary shortstop for the whole season for the Twins, hitting .256 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs in 133 games.
On March 18, 2018, Polanco was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug and was also ineligible for postseason play.[5] He was reinserted as the Twins shortstop upon his return from suspension. In 77 games, he hit .288 with 6 home runs and 42 RBIs.
During spring training in 2019, Polanco signed a five-year contract extension with the Twins worth $25.75 million and club options for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.[6] On April 5, Polanco hit for the cycle against the Philadelphia Phillies, going 5-for-5 with one RBI in a 10–4 loss.[7] Polanco was the American League starting shortstop in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[8] On the season, Polanco finished with a .295 batting average in 153 games. He hit 22 home runs, drove in 79 RBI and scored 107 runs. In 2020, Polanco hit .258 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI in 55 games.
In 2021, the Twins signed Andrelton Simmons to play shortstop and Polanco became a second baseman.[9] Polanco batted .269/.323/.503 and set career highs with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs.
During the 2023 season, Polanco played as a third baseman to accommodate Edouard Julien.[10]
On January 29, 2024, the Twins traded Polanco to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Anthony DeSclafani, Justin Topa, Gabriel González, Darren Bowen, and cash considerations.[11]
Polanco is married to Lucero Polanco. They have three children together.[12]