David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Even though Minnesota Twins fans have suffered through three dreadful seasons in a row, they have a lot to be excited about. With Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano in the Twins’ minor league system, they have a very bright future. In addition to the tremendous talent at the top of the system, they also have a nice collection of solid under-the-radar prospects.
Jorge Polanco, who was signed by the Twins as an international free agent in 2009, is one their many unappreciated prospects.
In his first full season as a professional, Polanco excelled. For class-A Cedar Rapids, he hit .308 with five home runs and 78 RBIs in 115 games. He also exhibited an excellent eye at the plate, since he drew 42 walks and struck out just 59 times in 465 at-bats. What is even more impressive about his performance is that he played at a high level despite being two younger than the league average.
Polanco is a well-rounded player, and he does not have many weaknesses. Not only is he skilled offensively, but he is also a strong defender at 2nd base. Polanco has a great reputation on defense, and it is considered one of his strongest attributes.
While he has average to above-average skills across the board, he lacks the upside of an elite prospect. He profiles as a solid contact-hitting second baseman with some gap power. At only 20-years old, he has the potential to hit for power as he gets older and stronger.
While this projection is not that of a superstar, a complementary player like that can be very valuable to an organization. He has the skill set to be a fast riser in the Twins’ system, an he is a prospect that fans should be excited about.
