Jorge Polanco is the Twins in a nutshell

Minnesota Twins v Chicago White Sox
Jorge Polanco is the Twins in a nutshell
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 23: Jorge Polanco #11 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning on August 23, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Jorge Polanco has been enigmatic as any player this season, and until the last 4 games, has likely flown under the radar in most reviews of the Twins’ season, save for a brief thought as to how one thought he would be able to hit much better than he has. A deeper dig into Polanco reveals that there isn’t really a better reflection of the Twins as a whole than the young shortstop. Don’t believe me? Here are a few things about Polanco that can also be said to describe his team.

  1. He’s young
  2. His defense is better than expected, and that defense is helping the pitching staff pitch above its talent. I think this description even applies to someone like Byron Buxton, as I’m not sure people fully appreciated the impact of a full season with him in the outfield.
  3. He was fine in the beginning of the year, slumped, and is now on fire again
  4. An offensive switch has been flipped since the beginning of August. He was hitting .382 with 3 home runs since the month began going into tonight. Of course, he hit another home run tonight.
  5. During that slump, everyone was ready to give up on him
  6. His plate approach is a primary reason for his rennaissance, with his strikeout rate down. In the case of the team, it is a change for the course of the season, whereas Polanco is returning to form after a terrible June and July.
  7. He can’t hit curveballs
  8. He came up through the Twins’ system. There isn’t a single regular starter, save for Jason Castro, that wasn’t developed in the Twins’ system.
  9. He does really good work against the White Sox
  10. His late season charge not only helps the team contend this year, but gives a lot of hope for 2018
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