Jul 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
QUEENS, NY — The boos grew louder for Jorge Polanco as Wednesday afternoon’s game went on. By the time he was caught looking to end the seventh inning with the bases loaded by Braves reliever Tyler Kinley, they were boisterous.
Polanco, the 33-year-old veteran infielder who was supposed to be the Pete Alonso replacement, is mired in his worst slump yet since joining the Mets on a two-year, $40 million pact over the winter.
He went 0-for-3 with a trio of strikeouts in New York’s 3-2 win over the Braves in the opening tilt of their doubleheader at Citi Field, extending a miserable slump to a platry 0-for-16 with nine strikeouts.
“He’s someone who just hasn’t found his timing and his groove,” interim manager Andy Green said.
A little slump is one thing, but Polanco has faced setback after setback at every turn since his arrival in Queens. He missed nearly three months due to injury, and after getting back from the IL on July 7, his bat has looked nothing like the one that hit 26 home runs last year with the Seattle Mariners and took two-time-defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal deep twice in Game 2 of the ALDS.
In 26 games this season, he is batting .144 with a .418 OPS, one home run, and four RBI.
“He squared up Skubal for two home runs in the postseason last year,” Green said. “He is ridiculously good, and he hasn’t been able to find his timing or rhythm right-handed or left-handed. He’s dealt with injuries all year. He’s someone we know is one swing away. We’d all like that swing to get here.”
Considering it was an Achilles issue that held him out for so long earlier this year, the Mets have been proactive in trying to keep the veteran off his feet. But that means giving him bats exclusively as a designated hitter, and that stat line certainly is not deserving of holding such a role.
“I know he’s grinding on it harder than anybody is, but we do have a ton of confidence,” Green said. “Like, that moment is coming where you unleash the floodgates, and Polanco is who he’s always been.”
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