Pittsburgh Pirates send rookie phenom Gregory Polanco to Triple-A
By Dan Zinski
Gregory Polanco burst on the scene with such a massive lava-spewing explosion you would’ve thought he was the second-coming of Barry Bonds or something. But since that initial eruption from Polanco has cooled off to a decidedly un-volcanic level.
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With Polanco scuffling in the majors, the Pirates have decided to give the rookie a break and send him back down to triple-A, per Ken Rosenthal.
Polanco will now have a time to get his confidence going against minor league pitching before his possible promotion back to the big league squad after the minor league season wraps up.
The Pirates could elect to bring Polanco back a week from now when rosters expand, but sending him down for a week only to recall him doesn’t seem like it would help him much.
After a torrid start, Polanco is now hitting .241/.308/.349 with 6 HR and 30 RBI, with only one hit in his last 30 ABs. Once those major league pitchers get a book on a young hitter, life sometimes gets very tough very fast.
Major league pitchers show no mercy when it comes to ripping up rookies, even ones who start off like gangbusters.
The future is obviously still bright for Polanco, but right now he is getting a chance to regroup and recharge and retool and reboot. If not outright resuscitate.
The Pirates have yet to announce a corresponding roster move.
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