Article: Twins Call Up Jorge Polanco Directly From Single-A

[Boom Boom]

This has to mean May is going to get the call in a few days, right?

 

I can't imagine that they will go back to Deduno that quickly...

 

Kris Johnson?

 

If they call up May, can he still play in the futures game?

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe Burdi will do this too. .....

[LaBombo]

Did they use this years option when they sent him to A-Ball in the spring?

 

Yup, when anybody on the 40 gets sent to the minors out of spring training and spends more than 20 day there, it uses up an option. So the Twins had nothing to lose in that regard.

[jokin]

You'd rather have him in the Futures game than here?

 

Huh? Is that what I said.....? <I don't think sooo>

[jharaldson]

Yup, when anybody on the 40 gets sent to the minors out of spring training and spends more than 20 day there, it uses up an option. So the Twins had nothing to lose in that regard.

 

I think the only legit concern is he is building service time which could make him more likely to get super 2 status at some point in the future. The only negative is a minimum salary year is replaced with an arbitration year so that is not even that bad.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/library/business/super-two/

[Danchat]

I think this means Polanco is guaranteed to get called up in September. Now that we've used his first option, you'd think they wouldn't waste it.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think this means Polanco is guaranteed to get called up in September. Now that we've used his first option, you'd think they wouldn't waste it.

 

They didn't just use the option, though -- they used it in March when they reassigned him to minor league camp. They similarly already used an option year for Vargas, who I suspect we should see in September.

[Thrylos]

Polanco was the only available player on the 40-man roster with the ability to play everywhere in the infield

 

Not true. Never played first base and he has 14 career appearances at third and those in GCL in 2011. He is a shortstop now and his play at shortstop with the glove has been improved the less he moves around. He is the best SS prospect the Twins have, the worst thing they can do is to start moving him around again.

 

With Plouffe expected to return from the disabled list on Monday, the Twins can slide Pedro Florimon or Eduardo Escobar back into a backup role.

 

Hopefully Florimon will go away when both Nunez and Plouffe return. Escobar was the starting SS last time I checked. I suspect that Gardy will use Santana as the centerfielder when healthy again.

[Thrylos]

This has to mean May is going to get the call in a few days, right?

 

I can't imagine that they will go back to Deduno that quickly...

 

Totally agree and kinda hoped that Deduno (and not Pino) took the axe. That said, something in the back of my head says that Swarzak might start that game... Not that I like it, but it is how they roll.

 

Also to get another pitcher up here, they need to move one. They had 13

[ScottyB]

Now Polanco leads the team in OPS!!!!

 

 

Edit: And I just made it to the big leagues - same day a Jorge!!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Totally agree and kinda hoped that Deduno (and not Pino) took the axe. That said, something in the back of my head says that Swarzak might start that game... Not that I like it, but it is how they roll.

 

Also to get another pitcher up here, they need to move one. They had 13

They still need to move a pitcher right? Unless they want to go back to 13 pitchers with Santana still D2D.

[Thrylos]

They still need to move a pitcher right? Unless they want to go back to 13 pitchers with Santana still D2D.

 

They are at 12 now. Which might mean that one of the 12 is starting in 4 days. If that is the case, I think that it will be Swarzak and not Deduno. When Plouffe and Nunez return, a couple of position players (Florimon and Polanco?) will likely go down

[DocBauer]

Completely out of left field! But kind of fun. I am also hoping he gets at least a few innings and AB's while up. I'm a big believer in his future, and this does bode well for a September call up. As I understand the rules, once a call up happens, he can go down and big up multiple times. The option is for the year, yes?

 

I do think it's rather strange that some blast the Twins for roster mismanagement, and want the Twins to promote youngsters, but then hammer the Twins for brining up Polanco, even briefly.

 

In regard to roster mismanagement in certain areas, I've softened my stance somewhat. Not offering excuses, but in regard to some issues in the infield, I think the FO simply played a gambling hand and lost. I now believe they were banking on Florimon and Bartlett, as example, for a half season to a full one. Trying to just buy some time. Obviously their bluff got called. Which is the reason they acquired the useful Nunez. But a moment of perspective please. They did trade for Nunez, they did elevate Escobar, and they did promote Santana in place of just sticking with Florimon or promoting Bernier like everyone thought. And much like our OF situation earlier, who saw 3 infielders all getting injured at the same time? These kind of things are just impossible to predict or prepare for. Unlike the OF situation, we might be looking at much shorter term situations.

 

Anything longer, if the baseball gods continue to curse us, as I mentioned in a companion thread on Santana, then a move simply must be made to get Romero up here.

 

Also mentioned in this thread, I think May's time has just about come. For various reasons, I don't know that it will happen in the next few days, however. With some impending roster shuffling of Plouffe, possibly Nunez, I wonder if Deduno might not get another start while the dust settles. Just wondering if. Would be kind of a shame for May to miss the Futures Game now that he's been added, but I don't think will stop the Twins from making a move that needs to be made. If he's really ready to be at least solid...well...suddenly a lot of things start to look that much more interesting/hopeful.

[LaBombo]

I think the only legit concern is he is building service time which could make him more likely to get super 2 status at some point in the future. The only negative is a minimum salary year is replaced with an arbitration year so that is not even that bad.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/library/business/super-two/

 

Something to keep an eye on, but if it's just a cup o' coffee, it shouldn't be a problem. After all, Santana is just day-to-day, which for a Twins player means that they are somewhere between playing tomorrow and abducted by aliens.

 

Kidding, but for real, it should be ok. But just the fact that an A ball kid is up with the big club because of yet another injury/depth crisis is cause for frustration and concern. Really happy and relieved for him that he succeeded under pressure in his less-than-ideal debut situation.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't thin calling someone up from A ball indicates any change in philosophy, do you? This is a unique occurrence, and does not have much to do with speed of promotions in general.

[Danchat]

They are at 12 now. Which might mean that one of the 12 is starting in 4 days. If that is the case, I think that it will be Swarzak and not Deduno. When Plouffe and Nunez return, a couple of position players (Florimon and Polanco?) will likely go down

 

Hmmmm... I guess I was under the impression that May, Darnell, or Johnson would get that start, but knowing Gardy, he might just stretch out Swarzak. At this point I'd rather see Deduno back in the rotation than see Swarzak start.... but Deduno is a good long reliever.

 

Also... Is Nunez close to returning soon?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Completely out of left field!.

 

I love this metaphor to describe Polanco's call up. I don't know why.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

I believe Kent Hrbek was called up straight from A-ball.

 

And Rod Carew

[jokin]

Hmmmm... I guess I was under the impression that May, Darnell, or Johnson would get that start, but knowing Gardy, he might just stretch out Swarzak. At this point I'd rather see Deduno back in the rotation than see Swarzak start.... but Deduno is a good long reliever.

 

Also... Is Nunez close to returning soon?

 

Nunez started at SS for New Britain last night. He was 0-3. It sounds like if all goes well, he'll be back on Monday.

[stringer bell]

Nunez started at SS for New Britain last night. He was 0-3. It sounds like if all goes well, he'll be back on Monday.

That was my understanding all along. Nuñez' injury was not a two-week injury. Since he has been a part-time player, it is probably helpful to get him at-bats and since he plays several positions, it would help for him to play a couple different positions before returning to the Twins.

 

I expect that Plouffe will be ready on Monday, as well. Two things temper my optimism on Plouffe: 1) history--Plouffe has had at least two episodes where he was supposed to be back the day after tomorrow and the goal line kept moving. 2) nature of injury--pulls and strains in the side and ribcage seem to always take longer than expected to heal. His injury was not diagnosed as an oblique strain or pull, so maybe this injury won't be so slow to heal.

[Seth Stohs]

I noticed a few people asked about Service Time. If he's up for 4 days, it is 4 days of service time. I hope he gets a start or two and does well. I would still think he returns to Ft. Myers at that point though AA is a possibility too.

 

They really like Polanco in the organization. People I've talked to talk about his intelligence, his personality and obviously his baseball abilities.

 

He needs to play though, and that's why he goes back to the minors. Can't have a player with that much talent sitting on the bench.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Keep calm and carry on. Polanco's visit with the Twins will be very short.

[Kwak]

And Rod Carew

 

 

Apparently not Carew. LEN3 was published today in the Tribune (www.startribune.com/sports) that there were four previos Twins promoted from Class A

Jim Manning '62, Butch Wynegar '76, Kent Hrbek '81, and Jim Eisenreich '82.

[Dantes929]

As much as I want to see May pitch I also think Pino deserved more of a shot. 1-1 with one quality start in the bigs after 9-1 in the minors. Yes, he may be this year's Albers or Walters or whoever but everyone has a clunker now and then and it did come against one of the best offenses in the league. I would have liked to see him start at least one more. I think he deserved it.

[Steven Buhr]

I think Pino was just a victim of unexpected circumstances. I would guess he would have gotten at least another start if they didn't need to clear room for an emergency reserve infielder. Because he wasn't going to be in a game over the weekend, his roster spot was the most dispensible without leaving them short on relievers who may be needed.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Was Polanco added to the 40-Man too early, or would he have been eligible to be a Rule V draftee if he was not on the 40-Man this year?

 

Promoting a guy from single-A ball is a huge jump, would it have been more prudent to have another AAA or AA middle infielder on the 40-Man instead of Polanco?

 

Or was this a case of protecting Polanco from being taken by another team (either Rule V or minor league free agent)?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Was Polanco added to the 40-Man too early, or would he have been eligible to be a Rule V draftee if he was not on the 40-Man this year?

 

Promoting a guy from single-A ball is a huge jump, would it have been more prudent to have another AAA or AA middle infielder on the 40-Man instead of Polanco?

 

Or was this a case of protecting Polanco from being taken by another team (either Rule V or minor league free agent)?

 

He was added last winter, to protect him from this past Rule 5 draft. Same for Vargas and Kepler.

[LaBombo]

Apparently not Carew. LEN3 was published today in the Tribune (www.startribune.com/sports) that there were four previos Twins promoted from Class A

Jim Manning '62, Butch Wynegar '76, Kent Hrbek '81, and Jim Eisenreich '82.

 

Hmm. Wonder what his source is. Baseball Cube shows Carew going from A+ to the Twins with no stops in between.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Apparently not Carew. LEN3 was published today in the Tribune (www.startribune.com/sports) that there were four previos Twins promoted from Class A

Jim Manning '62, Butch Wynegar '76, Kent Hrbek '81, and Jim Eisenreich '82.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=carew-001rod

 

Click on the link. Apparently LEN and the Strib are wrong.

[Willihammer]

He was added last winter, to protect him from this past Rule 5 draft. Same for Vargas and Kepler.

 

Speaking of that, has anyone looked at who will be eligible this year (unless rostered of course)?

 

AJ Achter

Alex Meyer

Deolis Guerra

Eddie Rosario

Jason Wheeler

Miguel Sano

Niko Goodrum

Reynaldo Rodgriguez

Sean Gilmartin

Todd Van Steensel

Tim Shibuya