Jorge Polanco’s recovery from the left knee injury that caused him to miss the final 37 games of last season has progressed slower than anticipated this spring, and the Twins’ switch-hitting second baseman will start the season on the injured list. How long Polanco will be out remains unclear, but the Twins are preparing to start the season without their longest-tenured player.
Polanco is hard to replace. Even in a down 2022 season, he hit .235/.346/.405 for a 117 OPS+ that placed third among American League second basemen, behind All-Stars Jose Altuve and Andrés Giménez. He led the Twins with 64 walks and ranked third with 16 homers despite the missed time, and only Luis Arraez and Carlos Correa posted a higher on-base percentage. And he was Minnesota’s MVP in 2021.
However, the Twins are relatively well equipped to replace Polanco in the short term thanks to the veteran depth they spent all offseason stockpiling. And if his absence stretches well into the season, necessitating a longer-term replacement, several of the Twins’ best prospects are upper-minors infielders with the ability to play second base.
Polanco will make $7.5 million this season in what is the final guaranteed year of an extension signed in the spring of 2019. His contract also includes a $10.5 million team option or a $1 million buyout for 2024 that vests if he logs at least 550 plate appearances this season. And if that 2024 option is exercised or vests, the Twins will then hold a $12 million team option for 2025.
With so much riding on this season for Polanco and the Twins, and such little certainty about the 29-year-old’s knee seven months after the initial injury, let’s take a look at their short- and long-term options to replace him if necessary.
JORGE POLANCO AGAIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/BBiGbempsp
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) July 6, 2022
Now: Nick Gordon
Polanco played his final game of last season on Aug. 27, and Nick Gordon took over as the main second baseman down the stretch. Using him mostly at second base again to start this year would have domino effects elsewhere since Gordon is slated to be a key part of the outfield and designated hitter mixes, but for now, it’s seemingly the most logical, straightforward path to replacing Polanco.
Gordon, a left-handed hitter, could form the strong side of a platoon at second base, matching up primarily versus right-handed pitchers, against whom he hit .289/.329/.465 last season. And the Twins just so happen to have added a pair of veteran right-handed hitters capable of handling second base and knocking around left-handed pitchers as part of a possible platoon with Gordon.
Now: Kyle Farmer
Acquired from the Reds in mid-November as a potential placeholder starting shortstop, Kyle Farmer has experience playing all over the infield and has been getting reps at second base this spring. He hit .259/.316/.400 with an 89 OPS+ the past two years, which would be middling overall production subbing every day for Polanco, but that included a stout .286/.350/.528 versus lefties.
Gordon facing righties and Farmer facing lefties is a classic platoon setup. But it only works if Farmer isn’t needed backing up shortstop and third base, as he’s No. 2 on the depth chart at both positions. Correa rarely takes days off, but Jose Miranda’s sore right shoulder may mean Farmer will be needed at third base. If that happens, the Twins have another, similar second-base platoon option.
Kyle Farmer just put on a defensive clinic in the 10th inning pic.twitter.com/jJ41OoDLzP
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 9, 2022
Now: Donovan Solano
When the Twins signed Donovan Solano to a one-year, $2 million deal a week into spring training they envisioned him contributing mostly as a first baseman and designated hitter, but the 35-year-old was a Silver Slugger-winning second baseman for the Giants in 2020 and has logged more than 3,000 career innings at the position.
And the knocking-around-left-handed-pitchers part of the platoon is precisely why the Twins targeted Solano in the first place. He’s batted .321 versus lefties since 2019, including .300 or higher in all four seasons. His power is minimal, but “Donnie Barrels” is a high-contact, line-drive hitter, and assuming he hasn’t lost more than a step defensively, he’d be an ideal platoon partner for Gordon.
Later: Edouard Julien
Polanco’s absence opened the door for Edouard Julien to start at second base in a bunch of early spring training games, and the 23-year-old prospect impressed before leaving camp to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. He was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul prior to returning from the WBC, although that wouldn’t preclude the Twins from carrying him on the Opening Day roster.
Julien is an extremely promising hitter, combining elite plate discipline with 20-homer power, but he’s yet to even play a Triple-A game and is generally seen as somewhat stretched defensively at second base. Julien will absolutely be a factor if Polanco misses months rather than days or weeks. But barring that, Gordon, Farmer and Solano are good enough that rushing him to the majors is unlikely.
That’s gone! Edouard Julien is balling out this tournament ???
?: WBC on FS2 pic.twitter.com/px3pFmQ7YL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 15, 2023
Much later: Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Austin Martin
This trio held three of the top five spots on my Twins prospect list published in January — Julien has since moved up a spot or two after ranking No. 6 then — but they’re each unready and/or unable to step into the major-league lineup yet. However, all three prospects could emerge as second base options in the second half if Polanco is still sidelined. And they’d all be in play for 2024 and beyond.
No. 1 prospect Brooks Lee played shortstop in college and likely profiles best as a third baseman in the majors, but second base is also a viable fit. He’s just nine months removed from being drafted out of Cal-Poly and has only 31 pro games under his belt, so Lee definitely needs some time to develop in the high minors. But multiple Twins officials have suggested that a 2023 debut is realistic.
No. 2 prospect Royce Lewis is on track for a midseason return from his second torn ACL in as many years, so he’s of no immediate help to the Twins. But he certainly looked big-league ready last year in between knee surgeries, including an impressive 12-game debut for the Twins. Correa’s presence means Lewis will be moving off shortstop, and his skill set profiles very well at second base.
No. 5 prospect Austin Martin has played primarily shortstop and center field in the minors, but many evaluators have felt that second base is his best long-term fit going back to his college days. Martin got lots of reps at second base early in camp and made some slick plays, but now he’s out indefinitely with a sprained right elbow ligament that could require surgery.
Big Picture
If the Twins are confident that Polanco will be back at some point in April or even May, they can feel good turning to some combination of Gordon, Farmer and Solano to hold down the fort. Anything beyond that and Julien could enter the picture. And come 2024, if the Twins decide to move on from Polanco, they have plenty of second base options in Julien, Lewis, Lee, Gordon and Martin.
They’d sure like Polanco back in the lineup as soon as possible, though.
(Top photo of Jorge Polanco: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
