Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco was playing so horrendously through June and July that the best option was to simply not play him.
Despite being on the active roster, he sat on the bench for a an entire week after collecting just 17 hits in 115 at-bats, which was a batting average of .148.
He was then inserted back into the lineup on Aug. 2 and he’s been a man possessed ever since.
Polanco has collected a hit in all seven games this month and is batting .500. His 12 hits in August are one fewer from his June total and he already has eight more hits more than he had in all July.
During his torrid streak, the shortstop has raised his batting average 23 points and his slugging percentage 35 points.
He’s now hitting .235 on the season, which isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s leaps and bounds better than his performance the first two months of the summer.
Polanco’s defense is right around league average in terms of runs saved, so he’ll have to be more consistent on offense to merit a reason to keep him in the everyday lineup.
His recent uptick at the plate is a big reason why the Twins have found themselves back in the playoff hunt.
