Top 5 Pittsburgh Pirates of the 2016 Season

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

3.  Gregory Polanco

Gregory Polanco got off to a great start in 2016.  The first three months of the season he was able to put up a .297/.377/.885 slash line and it looked like he was having the breakout season many people were expecting him to have.

However, Polanco started to fade after those three months.  He was still hitting for power (.522 slugging percentage) but his on-base percentage didn’t reach .300 for any one month the rest of the season.  Towards the end of the season Polanco said he had been playing through a shoulder injury.

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One positive from Polanco’s season was he was able to improve against left-handed pitching.  In 2015 Polanco really struggled against lefties (.190/.250/.528) and often times found himself being platooned when they faced tough lefties.  But in 2016 Polanco hit .245/.312/.781 against lefties.

The one thing Polanco was consistent with in 2016 was his power numbers.  He hit a career high 22 home runs and posted a career high slugging percentage (.463).  Polanco continued playing solid defense in his third full season and could be playing left field next season if Starling Marte is move to center field.

Regardless, the future for Gregory Polanco is very bright. He should only continue to improve in the coming seasons.

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