Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jorge Polanco

How Jorge Polanco built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Jorge Polanco is a professional baseball infielder and designated hitter currently playing for the New York Mets. Prior to the Mets, he played for the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2014 and earned an MLB All-Star selection in 2019 for the Minnesota Twins. He is originally from the Dominican Republic.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2001: ALCS Since 2001

On October 5, in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, Polanco hit a game-winning RBI single in the 15th inning to send the Mariners to their first ALCS since 2001.

2009: Signed with Minnesota Twins

In 2009, Jorge Polanco signed with the Minnesota Twins as an international free agent and received a $725,000 bonus.

2010: Professional Debut

In 2010, Jorge Polanco debuted for the Dominican Summer League Twins and also played for the Gulf Coast League Twins, hitting .233/.303/.294 with both teams. He was roommates with Max Kepler in Florida.

2012: Elizabethton Twins

In 2012, while playing for the Elizabethton Twins, Jorge Polanco hit .318/.388/.514 with five home runs in 51 games.

2013: Cedar Rapids Kernels & Leones del Escogido

In 2013, Jorge Polanco played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, hitting .308/.362/.452 with five home runs in 115 games, and was named a mid-season All-Star. After the season, he played for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League.

2014: MLB Debut

In 2014, Jorge Polanco made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut.

2014: MLB Debut with the Twins

In 2014, Jorge Polanco started the season with the Class-A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle. He was called up to the majors for the first time on June 26 and made his MLB debut that day. He played 4 games for the Twins and was later sent to the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, finishing the season with a .288/.353/.395 minor league record.

2015: Chattanooga Lookouts & Rochester Red Wings

In 2015, Jorge Polanco started back in Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts and was named a Southern League All-Star. He was called up to the Twins briefly and later promoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He returned briefly to the Twins in late July before finishing the season in Triple-A. He was ranked near the bottom of top 100 prospects lists.

2016: Extensive Playing Time in Majors

In 2016, Jorge Polanco got his first extensive playing time in the majors, playing in 69 games. He was promoted to the Twins after 10 games in Rochester but was demoted back to Triple-A for two months, returning to the Twins on July 30. He was a minor league All-Star for the third time in four seasons while with Rochester, and he hit .282 with 4 home runs and 27 runs batted in for Minnesota.

2017: Primary Shortstop for the Twins

In 2017, Jorge Polanco became the primary shortstop for the Twins, hitting .256 with 13 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases in 133 games. On August 29, he hit home runs as both a right-handed and left-handed batter in the same game. He also made his postseason debut.

2018: Fewest Games Played Since Suspension

In 2023, Jorge Polanco hit .255/.335/.454 in 80 games, his fewest since his drug suspension in 2018. While the Twins won their first postseason series in 21 years, Polanco hit poorly.

2019: Contract Extension and Hitting for the Cycle

During spring training in 2019, Jorge Polanco signed a five-year contract extension worth $25.75 million with club options for 2024 and 2025. On April 5, 2019, Polanco hit for the cycle against the Philadelphia Phillies.

2019: MLB All-Star

In 2019, Jorge Polanco was selected as an MLB All-Star.

2020: 2020 Season and Offseason Surgery

In 2020, Jorge Polanco hit .258 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI in 55 games. He batted 1-for-7 in the Wild Card Series and underwent offseason ankle surgery for the second consecutive year.

2021: Moved to Second Base and Career Highs

In 2021, Jorge Polanco became a second baseman after the Twins signed Andrelton Simmons to play shortstop. He set career highs with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs, batting .269/.323/.503, and was named the Twins' MVP and most improved player.

January 29, 2024: Traded to the Seattle Mariners

On January 29, 2024, Jorge Polanco was traded by the Twins to the Seattle Mariners for pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa, prospects Gabriel González and Darren Bowen, and cash. He had a career-high 137 strikeouts. On October 10, Polanco underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee.