So, I was looking over his career numbers and saw some things that surprised me:

 

• Made his MLB debut at 20, just 4 years after signing out of the DR

• Spent his 17-18 year old seasons in rookie ball and E-town, age 19 in the Midwest League.

• 20 he went High A, AA, Majors, albeit for a cup o Joe.

• Similarly, his age 21 season was AA, AAA, cup of coffee in the ML

• Age 22 was 1/3 ML, 2/3 AAA.

• By 23 he was a regular.

 

This seems like an agressive promotion schedule. Surprising given the old Twins management's reputation for slow promotion.

 

Was he ever a highly ranked prospect? I don't recall.

 

Different regimes, but Lewis is ahead of him 

 

He made Baseball America's and MLB Pipeline's top 100 list after the 2015 season, in the 90's.

 

His first call-up was due to him basically being the only available infielder on the 40 man to come up for a few days. I think it is his professional approach at the plate is what made the Twins comfortable to do that with him, and that's what I've really liked about Polanco

His first call-up was due to him basically being the only available infielder on the 40 man to come up for a few days.

Correct. Note that his age 20 and 21 MLB promotions were only for a few days each, and only mid-season -- he wasn't even recalled for September roster expansions those seasons. It was strictly an "emergency" call up situation. (But a credit to Polanco that they were willing to do it.)

 

And of course, he was only a full-time MLB player at age 22-23 because the old front office screwed up and lost their potential 4th option year on him (he switched rookie ball leagues midseason 2010 so he accumulated too many days active that season, and it counted as a "full" season).

 

He did move up steadily, but it wasn't quite as aggressive as it looks.

Polanco did receive a decent signing bonus back in 2009 too. He was regarded as a notable international signing that year, along with Sano and Kepler. (Polanco and Kepler has roughly the same promotion schedule too, as did the lesser-regarded 2009 signing Kennys Vargas.)

Thx. He definitely flew under my radar.

If he keeps playing like this in the field he won’t be (nor should he be) a major league shortstop. Move him to second where he can thrive.