RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target as a OF 3 with OF 2 Upside
ANALYSIS: The Pirates initially kept outfield prospect Gregory Polanco in Triple-A for service time considerations last year, creating a fantasy frenzy when he finally got the call on June 10. He exceeded the hype at first, posting a .301/.393/.419 triple-slash line through July 4. After that, he struggled to make an impact, earning a demotion in August. Polanco returned when rosters expanded, but Travis Snider had taken over in right field. Polanco finished the season at .235/.307/.343, with 7 HR and 14 SB in 277 AB-- a 15/30 pace that only Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Gomez managed last season. Despite his speed and line-drive rate (19.1 percent), his .272 BABIP reflects his 11.6 percent infield fly ball rate. Polanco, like many young lefties, also struggled against southpaws, posting a putrid .466 OPS in 82 AB. These numbers must improve for Polanco to progress, but there's a lot to like. His 10 percent walk rate and 19 percent strikeout rate both topped the league average. There’s a reason his call-up garnered such high anticipation. Polanco has special talent, and an early bump in the road doesn’t change that. Buy low on Polanco while you can.
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