Atlanta Braves free agent profile: A.J. Pollock

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PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 09: A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after an injury running the bases during the first inning of the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on September 9, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

An injury roller-coaster

Pollock took over the starting job in 2013 with the Diamondbacks, hitting .269/.322/.409 with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, and 12 steals. He was cruising in 2014 with a big season, hitting .302/.353/.498 with 19 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs, and 14 steals over 75 games before he was hit in the hand by a pitch and broke his hand. Interestingly, for Atlanta Braves fans, his injury in 2014 gave Ender Inciarte his first extended look in the field.

In 2015, Pollock returned to health for his best season of his career, making his lone All-Star team, hitting .315/.367/.498 with 39 doubles, 6 triples, 20 home runs, and 39 stolen bases. He also won a Gold Glove. He seemed on the step to super stardom at 27 years old.

Instead, his old injury from the minor leagues resurfaced in 2016, and Pollock had to have his broken elbow from 2010 reworked in 2016. He played only 12 games on the season.

The 2017 season had games missed due to less than ideal health, but Pollock did hit fairly well, with a .266/.330/.471 line, pounding out 33 doubles, 6 triples, and 14 home runs, stealing 20 bases.

He continued work with his swing that he began in 2017 during 2018, but he also missed time due to injuries, playing in 113 games, posting a .257/.316/.484 line with 21 doubles, 5 triples, 21 home runs, and 13 stolen bases. For a guy who has never had a strikeout rate over 18%, Pollock’s grooved swing now produced a 21.7% strikeout rate.

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