Five things we learned Tuesday: Gregory Polanco, emerging star

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The Cubs hung a six-spot on Michael Wacha in the first inning, Josh Tomlin snapped Chris Sale’s nine-game win streak and improved his record to 7-0, Jackie Bradley Jr. got halfway to Joe DiMaggio and the Twins … well, let’s not talk about the Twins. Five things we learned on Tuesday:

1. Gregory Polanco, 2016 All-Star. Everything is coming together for the 24-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder. He went 3-for-5 with a long home run to right-center and five RBIs in a 12-1 bashing of poor Shelby Miller and the Diamondbacks. Polanco is hitting .307/.395/.546, he’s played every game, he’s drawing walks, he plays a solid right field and did we mention he’s just 24? He’s a good reminder that we hype prospects so much these days and expect the best ones to be instant stars that we forget players have different learning curves. Polanco simply appears stronger this year and more aggressive when hitting his pitch: His “well-hit average” has increased from .168 to .242 (ranking fifth among qualified batters). I’m not a big fan of “on pace” numbers, but he’s on pace for 63 doubles, 22 home runs, 92 walks, 122 runs and 103 RBIs. All-Star numbers, my friends. And get this: Including this year, Polanco will make $20.9 million the next five seasons — or less than Jacoby Ellsbury is making in 2016. I wonder if pitchers will start to throw him more inside …

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