Searching for a strong second half, Pirates RF Gregory Polanco finds success in choking up

After a first half that had his batting average hovering around – and often below – the Mendoza Line, Gregory Polanco spent his time sidelined by an injury searching for ways to have a strong second half.

When he was on the injured list with a bilateral adductor strain — a core injury — Polanco spotted something that he believed could reverse his struggles at the plate. Since then, the right fielder has looked like a completely different hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but I choked up on the bat a little bit, so I can have more control of the barrel. That’s what I’m doing,” Polanco said after going 2 for 4 with three RBIs in Saturday’s 10-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. “I was watching video of me from ’17 and ’18 in the second half and I had a little choke-up. … In the second half, I’ve been doing this, doing that, so I’ve got more control now.”

In the seven games since coming off the IL on July 17, Polanco is hitting .304 (7 for 23) with a 1.066 OPS. Four of his seven hits are for extra bases, including two homers that pushed him to double digits for the fourth time in his eight-year major league career.

It’s a promising sign for the Pirates’ highest-paid player, as Polanco is earning $11 million this season. But his salary and his struggles have made Polanco a lightning rod for Pirates fans, especially when he slashed .199/.278/.362 prior to the All-Star break. Polanco leads the team with 81 strikeouts, despite playing in only 77 of their 98 games.

Pirates fans have been vocal in their criticism of Polanco, who is in the final guaranteed year of his five-year contract. He has club options of $12.5 million for 2022 and $13.5 million for 2023 that can be bought out for a total of $4 million, which the Pirates are likely to do. The frustration has fans wishing they would just cut Polanco loose.

Polanco, however, showed how his power can be game-changing for the Pirates, as he drove in their first run with a sacrifice fly, their second with a single and then hit a solo home run as they built a 4-1 lead against Kevin Gausman, who was leading the majors with a 1.84 ERA.

For all of his struggles, Polanco ranks second on the Pirates in home runs (11) and fourth in RBIs (29) — which is part of the reason why manager Derek Shelton keeps him in the lineup.

“I think so,” Shelton said. “I don’t worry about that criticism. I understand it. But this guy hit the ball hard. He really had a good night.”

Choking up isn’t the only change Polanco has made. His intention is to have an aggressive mindset at the plate, without trying to crush every pitch. He has spent time in the batting cage, working to simplify his approach.

“I’m just trying to hit the ball,” Polanco said in a postgame interview on AT&T SportsNet. “I’m not trying to hit it so hard, to swing so hard. I’m just trying to hit the ball right right now, trying to eliminate strikeouts and putting good swings on it. I’m strong enough to hit it anywhere in the park.”

Polanco proved that with the game’s two hardest-hit balls, according to Statcast, at 112 mph on his single and 106.2 mph on his home run. The 426-foot shot in the fifth inning was a low line drive to the deepest part of Oracle Park, commonly known as Triples Alley. He sprinted out of the batter’s box, thinking it would be an extra-base hit before seeing the ball clear the brick wall at the corner.

Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk observed that if Polanco had pulled the pitch, he could have sent it into the water of McCovey’s Cove. Turns out, that was the last thing on Polanco’s mind.

“Nah, not at all. I’m used to that at PNC. We’ve got the water back there, so I’m not like, ‘I want to put it in the water.’ Especially now, when I’m just trying to hit the ball in the middle,” Polanco said. “I’m not trying to do too much. If you see my last at-bat, I went off and tried to open and I struck out. That’s not in my mindset. I’m trying to stay short to the ball. If I catch it firm, it will go.”

What the Pirates are seeking is consistency from Polanco, even if it’s too late to improve his trade value or change the course of his future. He’s been one of their best base runners — going 11 for 11 on steals, one of only three players with double-digit steals without getting caught — and brings an ever-present positive attitude, even when he’s scuffling.

“He’s the same guy every day in our clubhouse and going about it,” Shelton said, “but I think any time you get a night like this where you get a run early, then you hit the homer, it’s definitely something you can build on.”