8:38AM Monday
March 25, 2013

lidom.com (LIDOM)

Who is Gregory Polanco? Why is he here? Is this 'pop-up' prospect for real or is it just my imagination? This Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder has a chance to be a special player beyond what his pedigree suggests.

Profile

Gregory Polanco was signed as an international free agent in 2009 out of the Dominican Republic. He signed for a $75,000 bonus. The 21 year old left handed center fielder is listed at 6' 4" and 170 pounds (though I have seen one site list him as heavy as 206 and in an interview with MiLB.com Polanco says he is 220 currently with a goal of reaching 225).

Pundits

Baseball Prospectus has Polanco listed as the #44 prospect overall for 2013 and the #3 prospect in the Pirates system. He was unranked last year. Indeed, his first mention in the BP database was in July 2012 even though he'd been in organized baseball since April 2009.

Baseball America touts Polanco as the 51st prospect in baseball for 2013. He also received awards as the best defensive OF, b...