Seattle Mariners' Polanco showing good sign at the plate

It’s been quite an interesting season for Seattle Mariners veteran Jorge Polanco.

Polanco re-signed with the M’s following a disappointing first year with Seattle in 2024. The longtime second baseman made the move to third during spring training and opened the year as the starter at the hot corner. But his stint at third didn’t last long as an oblique injury in April kept the switch-hitter from playing in the field and batting from the right side of the plate for an extended period of time.

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Yet Polanco was so hot from the left side of the plate he avoided a stint on the injured list and remained an impactful player in a part-time role as the designated hitter against right-handed starters.

Now Polanco is back to hitting from both sides and occasionally playing second base. Third base is no longer in the picture.

It’s all added up to a bounce-back in an odd season for the 32 year old. His batting average (.255) is up by 42 points and OPS (.788) by 137. He’s also fourth on the team with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Most of Polanco’s damage has come from the left side, including 19 of his 22 home runs and 31 of 39 extra-base hits. But lately he’s provided an impact from the right side of the plate that was missing most of the season.

Polanco slashed .242/.286/.348 with a .634 OPS, four doubles and one home run in 71 plate appearances against southpaws through Aug. 17. He’s slashing .462/.500/1.000 with a 1.500 OPS, one double and two homers in 14 plate appearances since. Both of those homers came this week.

It’s too small of a sample size to declare Polanco has completely figured it out from the right side, but it’s reasonable that he could be finding his swing now after his lengthy hiatus from right side earlier this year.

If Polanco can keep it going, it would be particularly big development for Seattle. The team has had recent troubles against left-handers. It ranks 24th in average (.222) and 21st in OPS (.694) against southpaws since the start of July. And those struggles were exacerbated when they were shut down by Philadelphia’s standout trio of left-handed starters Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesús Luzardo last week.

Polanco’s overall campaign has also put him in on track to be in control of his own destiny following this season. The one-year deal he signed with Seattle included a mutual option for 2027 that converts to a $6 million player option at 450 plate appearances and $8 million at 550 plate appearances, per Spotrac. He entered Sunday with 427 plate appearances.

Seattle Mariners’ Polanco showing good sign at the plate

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