Pirates Prospect Watch: Shalin Polanco Continues Red-Hot June

Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Shalin Polanco was one of the organization’s biggest amateur signings in 2021 and based off of his June performance, it’s easy to see why.

After another big game at the plate on Friday night with the Bradenton Marauders, Polanco is now hitting .326 with a .927 OPS and six extra-base hits in 12 games during the current month.

Polanco is currently considered the Pirates’ 25th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. 

In addition to Polanco, these Pirates’ prospects had noteworthy performances on Friday night.

Indianapolis (29-36)

2B Nick Gonzales

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one triple, one double, one run, one walk
• Season stats: .260/.363/.446, 12 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 25 RBIs, one steal, 52 games

3B Jared Triolo

• Game stats: 3 for 4, one double
• Season stats: .280/.381/.393, seven doubles, one triple, one home run, 16 RBIs, four steals, 29 games

Despite a combined six times on base from Gonzales and Triolo, the Indians couldn’t muster up much on offense in their 2-1 loss to the Iowa Cubs.

Endy Rodriguez drove in the lone run with an RBI single. Pirates prospect Cam Alldred pitched well, allowing two runs in six innings.

Altoona (31-28)

CF Matt Fraizer

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, three RBIs, one run, one walk, one steal
• Season stats: .228/.298/.360, 10 doubles, five home runs, 21 RBIs, six steals, 53 games

INF Liover Peguero

• Game stats: 3 for 5, one double, one run, one steal
• Season stats: .274/.344/.452, 15 doubles, one triple eight home runs, 31 RBIs, 15 steals, 55 game

Fraizer and Peguero helped will Altoona to a 6-2 win over the Somerset Patriots.

Matt Gorksi connected on his ninth homer of the season in the win. In his first start since returning off the IL, Pirates prospect Sean Sullivan allowed only one run in 3.1 innings. Nick Dombkowski earned the win thanks to 4.2 strong innings of relief.

Greensboro (33-26)

CF Jase Bowen

• Game stats: 4 for 5, one home run, four RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .240/.314/.465, seven doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, nine steals, 50 games

RHP Po-Yu Chen

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, seven hits, three runs, one walk, eight strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-4, 4.71 ERA, 30er/57.1ip, 58 hits, 19 walks, 59 strikeouts, 12 appearances/11 starts

Despite Bowen’s big night and a quality start from Chen, Greensboro lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Greenville Drive.

Pirates prospects Tres Gonzalez and Mike Jarvis both had two-hit nights.

Bradenton (32-29)

CF Shalin Polanco

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one home run, one double, two RBIs, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .245/.329/.467, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 36 RBIs, nine steals, 48 games

RHP Alessandro Ercolani

• Game stats: 5.0 innings, one hit, no runs, two walks, four strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-4, 4.69 ERA, 21er/40.1ip, 43 hits, 23 walks, 39 strikeouts, 10 appearances/10 starts

Polanco’s big night backed Ercolani’s stellar start as Bradenton took down Fort Myers Mighty Muscles 6-1.

Pirates prospect Rodolfo Nolasco hit a three-run homer for his eighth long ball of the season in the victory.