A.J. Pollock, Center Field, Seattle Mariners

Date of Birth: 12/5/1987
Birthplace: Hebron, Connecticut
College: University of Notre Dame

A.J. Pollock, center fielder for the Seattle Mariners, played at the University of Notre Dame prior to being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. He played in the minor leagues in 2009 and from 2011 through most of 2012, finishing with a .303 batting average.

Pollock played in just 31 games with the Diamondbacks in 2012. In 2013, his first full season in the major leagues, he batted .269 with 119 hits and 28 doubles in 137 games. He played in just 75 games in 2014 and he finished the season with 80 hits, 19 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and a .302 batting average.

Pollock played in 157 games with the Diamondbacks in 2015. He had a strong season, finishing with 192 hits, 39 doubles, 20 home runs, 39 stolen bases, 76 RBIs, and a .315 batting average. Defensively, in left field, he made 347 putouts and 3 errors in 151 games and he had a .992 fielding percentage. He was awarded his first Gold Glove in 2015.

Pollock suffered a right elbow break in Spring training and he missed most of the 2016 season. He returned at the end of the season for 12 games.

In 2017, Pollock batted .266 in 112 games with the Diamondbacks. He finished the season with 113 hits, 33 doubles, 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 71 strikeouts to 35 walks. Defensively, as the Diamondbacks' center fielder in 109 games, he made 213 putouts and 1 error. In the postseason, he had 3 hits (a double, a triple, and a home run) and 3 RBIs in 14 at-bats in 4 games. He struck out 4 times and walked twice.

Pollock finished the 2018 season with 106 hits, 21 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBIs, 100 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a .257 batting average in 113 games. Defensively, as a center fielder in 109 games, he made 229 putouts and 1 error.

Pollock became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed a four year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 26, 2019. The contract included a player option for a fifth year.

Pollock spent time on the DL in 2019 with right elbow inflammation. He played in 86 games and he had 82 hits, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 47 RBIs, 74 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .266 batting average. Defensively, as the Dodgers' center fielder in 62 games, he made 91 putouts and 1 error. In the postseason, he had no hits and 11 strikeouts and 1 walk in 13 at-bats in 5 games.

Pollock played in 55 games in 2020. He finished the season with 54 hits, 9 doubles, 16 home runs, 34 RBIs, 45 strikeouts to 12 walks, and a .276 batting average. Defensively, he played 27 games in left field and 16 games in center field. In the postseason, he had 9 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 7 strikeouts to 2 walks, and a .220 batting average in 41 at-bats in 14 games.

Pollock spent time on the IL in 2021 with a hamstring strain. He finished the season with 114 hits, 27 doubles, 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 80 strikeouts to 30 walks, and a .297 batting average in 117 games. Defensively, he played 103 games in left field and he made 167 putouts and no errors. In the postseason, he had 11 hits, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 9 RBIs in 11 games.

The Dodgers traded Pollock to the Chicago White Sox on April 1, 2022.

Pollock became a free agent on November 9, 2022. He signed with the Mariners on January 12, 2023.

Career batting statistics for Pollock through 2021 include:

• 895 games played
• 890 hits
• 195 doubles
• 126 home runs
• 119 stolen bases
• 414 RBIs
• 606 strikeouts to 250 walks
• .281 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Pollock as a center fielder through 2021 include:

• 659 games played
• 1,384 putouts
• 9 errors
• .994 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - A.J. Pollock
ESPN - A.J. Pollock