With Danny Santana unavailable after leaving Wednesday night’s game with a knee injury, the Twins have promoted Jorge Polanco all the way from Class A Ft. Myers.
To make room for Polanco, the Twins optioned Yohan Pino back to Class Triple-A Rochester.
It has been 10 years since the Twins have called up a player as young as the 20-year-old Polanco.
The #MNTwins have optioned RHP Yohan Pino & recalled INF Jorge Polanco from Ft. Myers. Polanco (20) youngest player since Mauer in 2004.
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) June 26, 2014
The move is expected to be temporary and it isn’t something Minnesota normally does. In fact, Polanco becomes the first Twins player to be recalled from Class A to the Majors since Jim Eisenreich in 1982.
Jorge Polanco becomes first Fort Myers Miracle player to advance to the big leagues directly. He has been on 40-man roster.
— David Dorsey (@DavidADorsey) June 26, 2014
The Twins are thin in the middle infield. They were already without Eduardo Nunez and Trevor Plouffe, prior to Santana’s injury.
According to 1500 ESPN, Polanco was on the team’s 40 man roster, so that is likely to explain the decision to bring him up to the big club from Class A.
Despite the big jump, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire isn’t afraid to use him.
“I saw him in Spring Training, and we all know he’s very talented and one of our prospects,” said Gardenhire. “He can swing it. He’s a little loose defensively, which some young players happen to be. But he has a lot of really good skills. So it’s exciting.”
Polanco was hitting .289 with five home runs, 12 doubles, three triples and eight stolen bases in 72 games with the Miracle.
The move leaves a vacancy in the Twins rotation, and Pino can not be recalled for 10 days, unless there is an injury to the Twins pitching staff.
According to the Pioneer Press, it appears that Samuel Deduno would be the Twins top in-house option, to start in Pino’s spot.
