The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the club has signed outfielder Gregory Polanco to a five-year contract extension (beginning in 2017) with club options for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
The 24-year-old Polanco spent his first full season in the Majors last year with Pittsburgh, where he hit .256 with 35 doubles, six triples, nine home runs, 52 RBI, 27 stolen bases and a .320 on-base percentage in 153 games. He also ranked second among all National League outfielders with 13 assists, trailing only teammate Starling Marte (16).
"We are very pleased to have found a common financial ground with Gregory and his representatives," said Huntington. "This agreement will provide Gregory with incredible financial security and the club with the ability to build around Gregory as one of our core players for years into the future."
Polanco was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent on March 25, 2009. He was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Player-of-the-Year in 2012 and participated in Major League Baseball's All-Star Futures Game in 2013.
In 2014, Polanco made his big league debut with the Pirates, where he became the first Pittsburgh player to begin his Major League career with an 11-game hitting streak and the first National League player to do so since 2000.
Polanco enters today with a .251 career average (219-for-873) with 45 doubles, six triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBI, 135 runs scored and 41 stolen bases in 243 games in his big league career.