Pittsburgh Pirates: West Virginia Power Player Awards

Hitter of the Year

Although he is no longer a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Tito Polo broke out in a big way for the West Virginia Power.  Polo spent all of 2015 at Low-A and struggled, he was sent there again for the 2016 season.  Polo showed that he made the appropriate adjustments.

What did Polo prove to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Low-A this year?  He proved that they were right in that he needed more experience at that level, and that if he gained it he would improve.  This season he played 54 games for the Power.  Polo put on a clinic, and finally broke out the way that many were hoping the toolsy outfielder would.  He had a batting average of .302 for the Power, and he posted an outstanding .909 OPS. He showed a great balance of power and the ability to get on base.  His on-base percentage was at .368 and his slugging was .552, both much higher than his number in 2015.  To go along with those strong numbers, Polo hit 12 home runs and swiped 20 bags as well.  Polo has always had the tools, but really showed them off in a refined way this year.

Polo was bumped up to High-A.  He played another 55 games there.  It was announced on August 30th that Tito Polo would be heading to the New York Yankees as part of the Ivan Nova deal.  Although he was not with the Power for a long time, the numbers he put up there were impressive enough to get noticed by other teams. This is why he is the Hitter of the Year at Low-A.