Jorge Polanco makes first rehab start in nearly a month, goes 0-for-3 for Triple-A Syracuse

The Mets’ infielder/designated hitter began another step of his return from the injury-to-rest process, appearing in Saturday night’s rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse and finishing hitless.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Jorge Polanco took another step toward returning to the New York Mets on Saturday night, resuming his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. Appearing for Syracuse in his first rehab game in nearly a month, the Mets infielder and designated hitter went 0-for-3 while batting second and serving as the DH.

Against the Syracuse pitching staff, Polanco faced left-hander Kolby Allard in his first at-bat and came up short early. As a switch-hitter batting right-handed versus the lefty, he swung at the first pitch he saw and popped out to second base.

Polanco’s second and third plate appearances also did not produce a hit. Leading off the fourth inning, he struck out looking against Allard on a 2-2 curveball that reportedly looked a bit outside, and he did not challenge the call. After that, he remained without a hit for the remainder of the game, finishing 0-for-3.

Rehab assignments in Triple-A serve a specific purpose for major-league clubs: they let players ramp up to game speed and at-bats while still being managed in a controlled environment. For Polanco, the Saturday appearance matters less for the box-score result and more for the fact that he was back in a live, competitive lineup role, batting in the middle portion of the order and taking full DH responsibilities.

Syracuse’s game also provided a useful look at Polanco’s timing against higher-end pitching, including a starter he faced in a right-on-left matchup as he batted right-handed. Even without a hit, the sequence of at-bats shows he is continuing to handle the same kinds of situational demands the Mets would ask of him, including being ready for early counts and advancing innings from the leadoff spot.

What to watch next is whether Polanco’s at-bats begin to produce more constructive results as the rehab continues. The Mets will typically look for steadier contact, a better conversion rate on competitive counts, and continued comfort handling the rhythm of daily preparation and lineup usage. Another rehab appearance and subsequent performance will help determine how quickly he can progress toward rejoining New York.

Why It Matters

For the Mets, Polanco’s rehab progress is a roster-relevant milestone because it indicates he is moving through the next phase of return rather than only practicing.
The appearance gives New York a fresh read on how Polanco handles live pitching and lineup usage at Triple-A.
Even without a hit, continued at-bat volume in a real game environment helps determine how quickly he can be scaled back up toward MLB duties.
As the rehab continues, the Mets will be watching for improved contact and more results on pitches down competitive counts.

Sources

Key Facts

Jorge Polanco resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday night.
This was his first rehab game in nearly a month, and he finished 0-for-3.
Polanco batted second and DH’ed for Syracuse in the game.
He faced lefty Kolby Allard, batting right-handed as a switch-hitter versus the left-hander.
In his first at-bat, Polanco popped out to second base on the first pitch he saw.
Leading off the fourth inning, Polanco struck out looking on a 2-2 curveball that he did not challenge.