Polanco power: OF emerging as deep threat

ST. LOUIS — Gregory Polanco had one thought when the ball came off his bat in the seventh inning of the Pirates’ 10-5 win over the Cardinals on Sunday: “Stay fair, stay fair, stay fair.” And it did. Barely.

Polanco banged a home run off Busch Stadium’s left-field foul pole, a three-run shot that served as further evidence of the remarkable strides he’s taken offensively this season.

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“This kid’s figuring things out every day he goes out there,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “To drive a ball down the left-field line, that is impressive.”

More than a month into the season, Polanco is hitting .292/.393/.504. He’s walking as often as he’s striking out, and he’s already driven in 19 runs. But the most encouraging aspect of the hot start by “El Coffee” is his emerging power.

Sunday’s three-run homer was his fourth dinger of the season, a total he didn’t reach last year until July 24. His “isolated power” average — which subtracts batting average from slugging percentage — is .212, well above his .128 career mark.

“I can …

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