The Twins exercised Polanco's $10.5 million club option for 2024 on Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Polanco again battled durability issues in 2023, missing significant time due to ankle, knee and hamstring injuries, but he registered a .789 OPS with 14 home runs across 80 games (343 plate appearances) when healthy. Minnesota could potentially look to trade the 30-year-old infielder this winter and install Edouard Julien at second base, but exercising the option was likely an easy early-offseason decision for the AL Central champs.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Back in action for Game 1
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Polanco (ankle) is starting at third base and batting second in Tuesday's Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series versus the Blue Jays.
Polanco missed the final two games of the regular season with a right ankle injury, but he's ready to go for the Twins' playoff opener. With Royce Lewis limited to designated hitter duties as he returns from a hamstring injury, Polanco is in line to serve as Minnesota's regular third baseman.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Still out Sunday
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Polanco (ankle) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rockies.
He was pulled from Friday's game with right ankle soreness and will miss a second game in a row with the Twins already locked into the postseason. It's unclear if Polanco will be ready to go for the playoffs on Tuesday.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Out of lineup Saturday
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Polanco (ankle) wasn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Colorado.
Polanco was pulled from Friday's matchup due to a sore right ankle, and the Twins are likely acting out of an abundance of caution by holding him out of this one after already locking up the AL Central. He'll continue to be considered day-to-day moving forward.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Removed with sore ankle
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Polanco is considered day-to-day after exiting Friday's game at Colorado due to right ankle soreness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Polanco tweaked his ankle on a fourth-inning strikeout, though he was able to gut it out until the bottom of the sixth. Donovan Solano slid over from first base to second base with Alex Kirilloff entering to play first. This is the same ankle Polanco has twice had surgically repaired, but it sounds like he could be available as early as Saturday for the AL Central-champion Twins.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Absent from lineup
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Polanco is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Athletics.
Polanco will take a seat for the afternoon game after starting the previous three contests. Donovan Solano is at second base and Willi Castro is at third.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Chips in with solo home run
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Polanco went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Twins.
Polanco took Carson Fulmer deep in the third and now has a hit in 18 of his last 22 games dating back to Aug. 26. Over that span, he's slashing .295/.376/.568 with six homers, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored and a 12:27 BB:K. He should continue to hit near the top of the order as the Twins gear up for the playoffs.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Not in lineup Friday
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Polanco is not in the lineup Friday versus the White Sox.
Edouard Julien will start at second base as Royce Lewis takes a turn in the DH role and Kyle Farmer covers third base. This is presumably just a day of rest for Polanco, who is sitting on a four-game hitting streak.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Returns from bereavement
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Polanco was activated from the bereavement list Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Polanco missed three games while tending to personal matters, but he's rejoined the Twins and is back in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Rays. The veteran infielder will carry an .802 OPS into play Wednesday.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Championship pickups
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No team has better hitter matchups down the stretch than the Twins, particularly that final week against the Athletics and at the Rockies. There will probably be too many lefties to make Edouard Julien and Matt Wallner advisable plays, but Polanco's hot hitting has gone overlooked amid the Royce Lewis hubbub.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Goes on bereavement leave
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Minnesota placed Polanco on the bereavement list Sunday.
Polanco had been slated to serve as the Twins' designated hitter Sunday against the Mets, but he has now been excused from the team for at least the next few days to deal with a private family matter. Gilberto Celestino will get the call from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding roster move.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Homers in three-hit performance
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Polanco went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two additional runs in Monday's 20-6 win over the Guardians.
Since donning the Golden Sombrero in the Twins' 2-0 win over the Pirates on Aug. 20, Polanco has reached base in each of his last 13 contests, slashing .356/.482/.667 with four home runs, 11 RBI and 10 runs over that stretch. Though the Twins should get some reinforcement to the lineup with Alex Kirilloff (shoulder) and Byron Buxton (knee) due back soon from the injured list, Polanco will continue to play on a near-everyday basis while moving between second base, third base and designated hitter.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Homers, drives in three
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Polanco went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win against the Guardians.
Polanco doubled and scored in the second inning before ripping a three-run shot in the fourth. He's knocked four homers while going 18-for-54 (.333) over his last 15 games. On the year, he owns a .785 OPS with 23 extra-base hits through 58 games.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Resting Wednesday
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Polanco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Polanco will get a breather for the day game after a night game, ending a streak of 13 consecutive starts. With Polanco riding pine for the series finale, Royce Lewis will man third base, and second baseman Edouard Julien will get a day out of the field and serve as the Twins' designated hitter.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Homers, drives in three
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Polanco went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Tigers.
Polanco gave the Twins a 4-0 lead with his sacrifice fly in the second inning and later added a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Twins back within two runs of Detroit. The veteran infielder has now hit safely in four of his last five games, driving in six runs over that stretch to go along with three walks and three runs scored.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Not starting Sunday
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Polanco is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Polanco has started all eight games since being reinstated from the injured list July 28, but he'll hit the bench Sunday after he posted a .172/.294/.310 slash line during that span. Willi Castro will man the hot corner and bat eighth in his place.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Activated from injured list
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Minnesota activated Polanco (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Polanco will be back in action with the Twins on Friday night against the Royals after slashing .333/.448/.500 over 29 plate appearances on a seven-game minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul. The 30-year-old infielder has battled multiple leg injuries this season, but he typically produces solid offensive numbers when his health cooperates. Polanco could find himself returning to a utility role however, with rookie Edouard Julien having thrived as Minnesota's starting second baseman in his absence.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: To return this weekend
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Polanco (hamstring) is slated to be activated from the 10-day injured list in time for the Twins' series in Kansas City this weekend, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
He will play a seventh and final rehab game with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday before rejoining the big club Friday. Polanco is making his third start at third base for St. Paul on Wednesday and looks to be in line to see most of his action against right-handers with the Twins at the hot corner, with Edouard Julien remaining at second base.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: To get 3B reps
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Polanco (hamstring) will get reps at third base during his rehab assignment, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Rookie Edouard Julien has been the Twins' best hitter lately, so he may remain the go-to option at second base against right-handed pitching even once Polanco is healthy. The 30-year-old infielder could instead play third base against righties and second base against southpaws. Polanco is hitting .200 with four strikeouts and two walks through three rehab games.
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Twins' Jorge Polanco: Rehab begins Sunday
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Polanco (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Polanco debuted back in 2014 and made it through the end of 2021 without ever hitting the injured list, but he went there twice last season and three times so far this year, including twice with a strained left hamstring. His latest injury has kept him out for over a month, but it doesn't look as though he'll miss too much more time.
