Photo Credit:
This article was researched and compiled
by Carrie Birdsong
Born: December 5th, 1987
Birthplace: Marlborough, Connecticut
Position: Outfielder
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB Debut: April 18th, 2012, for the Arizona
Diamondbacks
Last MLB Appearance: August 8th, 2023, for the San
Last MLB Appearance: August 8th, 2023, for the San
Francisco Giants
MLB Statistics:
MLB Statistics:
1. Batting Average .273
2. Hits 1,032
3. Home Runs 145
4. Runs Batted In 485
5. Stolen Bases 122
Teams:
2. Hits 1,032
3. Home Runs 145
4. Runs Batted In 485
5. Stolen Bases 122
Teams:
1. Arizona Diamondbacks 2012 – 2018
2. Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 – 2021
3. Chicago White Sox 2022
4. Seattle Mariners 2023
5. San Francisco Giants 2023
Career Highlights and Awards: All–Star 2015
1. World Series Champion 2020
2. Gold Glove Award 2015
Medals:
1. Men’s Baseball Representing: United States
2. Pan American Games
3. 2011 Guadalajara
4. National Team
A.J. Pollock was born in Marlborough, Connecticut, to parents Al and Karen Pollock(1). His family lived just over an hour and a half from Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Pollock and his father would routinely make trips to watch New England Patriots’ home games. (2)
Pollock attended RHAM High School in his hometown of Hebron, where he played basketball, soccer, and baseball(3). In his senior year, Pollock was a member of the National Honor Society. That year, he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut, receiving the most votes for a Connecticut player since 1974, and was also named the state’s Player of the Year by the coaches’ association. Pollock finished his high school baseball career with a .411 batting average, 55 runs batted in (RBIs), 26 walks, 27 stolen bases, and eight strikeouts over 248 at-bats. (4)
College Career
Pollock attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played college baseball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as an outfielder and third baseman. Pollock was named a Freshman All–American, leading the team with a .372 batting average. In 2007, playing for the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Vermont Mountaineers, he won the 10th Player Award(5). Pollock was rated by Baseball America before his sophomore season as the league’s second–best 2009 MLB prospect and best pure hitter. During his sophomore season, Pollock hit .352, led the team in hitting and stolen bases, and was a First – Team All – Big East Conference as a center fielder. After the 2008 season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he hit .377 and was named MVP of the league(6)(7). In his junior year at Notre Dame, Pollock hit .365, had an on–base percentage of .443, and a slugging percentage of .610. Pollock also made no errors in 159 chances and stole 21 bases in 25 tries. Pollock became the second player to lead the team in batting average for three consecutive years. (8)
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Pollock in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft(9). He was chosen as a compensation pick from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the signing of Orlando Hudson.
The Diamondbacks invited Pollock to spring training in 2010. He broke his right elbow while attempting to make a diving catch(10)(11). Pollock missed the entire season due to the injury.
In 2011, he played for the Mobile BayBears(12). He batted .307 / .358 / .444 in 550 at-bats with 103 runs (leading the Southern League), 41 doubles (3rd), 36 steals (3rd), and 9 sacrifice flies (3rd). (12)
Pollock was called up to the majors for the first time on April 18th, 2012, and made his debut that day(13). Batting as a pinch hitter for Justin Upton, Pollock collected his first MLB hit, a single, on April 23rd against the Phillies. He played in 31 games that season for the Diamondbacks, batting .247 / .315 / .395 in 81 at-bats with two home runs and eight RBIs.(14)
In 2013, Pollock batted .269 / .353 / .409 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts in the course of 442 at-bats over 137 games. (14)
Pollock missed the second half of the 2014 season with an injury(15). Up to that point in the season, he was batting .302 / .353 / .498 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts in the course of 443 at-bats over 137 games. (14)
In 2015, he was named a National League All–Star (16). He ended the season batting .315 (3rd in the National League) / .367 / .498 / in 609 at bats with 22 runs (2nd in the National League), 39 doubles (3rd), 6 triples (6th), 20 home runs, 76 RBIs, 39 stolen bases (3rd), an 84.78% stolen base success rate (6th), and 8 sacrifice flies (2nd), playing 151 games in centerfield(17). He led the National League in power–speed number (26.4)(18). He came in 14th in voting for NL MVP(19). He also won a Gold Glove. (19)
Pollock signed a two–year contract extension worth $10.25 million on February 8th, 2016(20). Pollock broke his right elbow again at the end of spring training, this time on a slide at home plate, and missed most of the 2016 season(10)(11). In the 12 games he would appear in during the 2016 season, Pollock would record 10 hits on 41 at-bats, a .244 batting average, playing center field. (14)
On May 15th, 2017, Pollock was placed on the 10–day disabled list due to a right groin strain(21). Throughout 112 games in 2017, Pollock batted .266 / .330 / .471 in 413 at-bats, with 6 triples (9th in the NL), 14 home runs, and 49 RBIs, playing center field. (19)
In 2018, Pollock hit .257 / .316 / .484 in 413 at-bats with 21 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 7 sacrifice flies (9th in the NL) over 113 games, playing center field. He was also 13 for 15 in stolen base attempts. (14)
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 26th, 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they had signed Pollock to a four–year contract, with a player option for another year. (22)
On April 30th, 2019, the Dodgers placed Pollock on the injured list with a right elbow inflammation(22). He did not rejoin the team until July 12th(23). In September, the Dodgers moved Pollock to left field for the rest of the season(24). For the season he appeared in 86 games, batting .266 / .327 / .468, with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.(14)
The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pollock played in 55 of the Dodgers’ 60 games. On September 16th, Pollock hit his 100th career home run, off of Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres(25). He batted .276 / .314 (a career low) / .566 (a career high) with 16 home runs (3rd in the NL), 12.3 at-bats per home run (5th), and 34 RBIs(14). In the postseason, Pollock had one hit (a double) in five at – bats in the Wild Card Series, three hits in 10 at – bats in the 2020 NLDS, four hits in 20 at bats in the 2020 NLCS and one hit (a double) in six at bats in the 2020 World Series, which the Dodgers won in six games. (14)
On May 2, 2021, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Pollock hit two home runs (including a grand slam) and drove in a career-high eight RBIs(26). Pollock received player of the week for July 5th – 11th, 2021, during the week he had a four–game hitting streak while batting .391 / .462 / 1.043 with three doubles, four home runs and four RBIs(27). For the 2021 season, Pollock batted .297 / .356 / .537 in 384 at-bats with 27 doubles, 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 9 steals (while being caught once), while playing 103 games in left field and eight games in center field(14). In the post–season, he was hitless in three at–bats in the Wild Card Game, had three hits in 11 at-bats (.273) over four games in the 2021 NLDS, and eight hits in 21 at-bats (.381) with two home runs in the 2021 NLCS.(14)
Chicago White Sox
On April 1st, 2022, Pollock was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Craig Kimbrel(28). Overall, in 2022, Pollock appeared in 138 games, hitting to a .245 average with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs. On November 8th, Pollock declined his option for the 2023 season and became a free agent.
Seattle Mariners
On January 12th, 2023, Pollock signed a one–year, $7 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.(29)
Before the trade, Pollock appeared in 49 games for Seattle, batting .173 / .225 / .323 (all career lows), with 5 homers and 15 RBIs.
San Francisco Giants
On July 31st, 2023, Pollock and Mark Mathias were traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later(30)(31). Pollock went hitless in five games for the Giants before he was released by the team on September 5th.(32)
International Career
Pollock played for the United States national baseball team at the 2011 Pan American Games. (33)
Coaching Career
On March 8th, 2024, it was announced that Pollock had joined the Seattle Mariners during spring training as a volunteer assistant coach.(34)(35)
Personal Life
Pollock got engaged to his girlfriend, Kate, in March 2014. They met at Notre Dame, where Kate played for the lacrosse team(36). They were married after the 2014 season(37). In May 2020, Pollock and his wife welcomed a premature daughter, and she spent 128 days in the hospital after she was born(38). The family resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 – 2021
3. Chicago White Sox 2022
4. Seattle Mariners 2023
5. San Francisco Giants 2023
Career Highlights and Awards: All–Star 2015
1. World Series Champion 2020
2. Gold Glove Award 2015
Medals:
1. Men’s Baseball Representing: United States
2. Pan American Games
3. 2011 Guadalajara
4. National Team
2011
Early LifeA.J. Pollock was born in Marlborough, Connecticut, to parents Al and Karen Pollock(1). His family lived just over an hour and a half from Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Pollock and his father would routinely make trips to watch New England Patriots’ home games. (2)
Pollock attended RHAM High School in his hometown of Hebron, where he played basketball, soccer, and baseball(3). In his senior year, Pollock was a member of the National Honor Society. That year, he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut, receiving the most votes for a Connecticut player since 1974, and was also named the state’s Player of the Year by the coaches’ association. Pollock finished his high school baseball career with a .411 batting average, 55 runs batted in (RBIs), 26 walks, 27 stolen bases, and eight strikeouts over 248 at-bats. (4)
College Career
Pollock attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played college baseball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as an outfielder and third baseman. Pollock was named a Freshman All–American, leading the team with a .372 batting average. In 2007, playing for the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Vermont Mountaineers, he won the 10th Player Award(5). Pollock was rated by Baseball America before his sophomore season as the league’s second–best 2009 MLB prospect and best pure hitter. During his sophomore season, Pollock hit .352, led the team in hitting and stolen bases, and was a First – Team All – Big East Conference as a center fielder. After the 2008 season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he hit .377 and was named MVP of the league(6)(7). In his junior year at Notre Dame, Pollock hit .365, had an on–base percentage of .443, and a slugging percentage of .610. Pollock also made no errors in 159 chances and stole 21 bases in 25 tries. Pollock became the second player to lead the team in batting average for three consecutive years. (8)
Professional Career
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks selected Pollock in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft(9). He was chosen as a compensation pick from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the signing of Orlando Hudson.
The Diamondbacks invited Pollock to spring training in 2010. He broke his right elbow while attempting to make a diving catch(10)(11). Pollock missed the entire season due to the injury.
In 2011, he played for the Mobile BayBears(12). He batted .307 / .358 / .444 in 550 at-bats with 103 runs (leading the Southern League), 41 doubles (3rd), 36 steals (3rd), and 9 sacrifice flies (3rd). (12)
Pollock was called up to the majors for the first time on April 18th, 2012, and made his debut that day(13). Batting as a pinch hitter for Justin Upton, Pollock collected his first MLB hit, a single, on April 23rd against the Phillies. He played in 31 games that season for the Diamondbacks, batting .247 / .315 / .395 in 81 at-bats with two home runs and eight RBIs.(14)
In 2013, Pollock batted .269 / .353 / .409 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts in the course of 442 at-bats over 137 games. (14)
Pollock missed the second half of the 2014 season with an injury(15). Up to that point in the season, he was batting .302 / .353 / .498 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts in the course of 443 at-bats over 137 games. (14)
In 2015, he was named a National League All–Star (16). He ended the season batting .315 (3rd in the National League) / .367 / .498 / in 609 at bats with 22 runs (2nd in the National League), 39 doubles (3rd), 6 triples (6th), 20 home runs, 76 RBIs, 39 stolen bases (3rd), an 84.78% stolen base success rate (6th), and 8 sacrifice flies (2nd), playing 151 games in centerfield(17). He led the National League in power–speed number (26.4)(18). He came in 14th in voting for NL MVP(19). He also won a Gold Glove. (19)
Pollock signed a two–year contract extension worth $10.25 million on February 8th, 2016(20). Pollock broke his right elbow again at the end of spring training, this time on a slide at home plate, and missed most of the 2016 season(10)(11). In the 12 games he would appear in during the 2016 season, Pollock would record 10 hits on 41 at-bats, a .244 batting average, playing center field. (14)
On May 15th, 2017, Pollock was placed on the 10–day disabled list due to a right groin strain(21). Throughout 112 games in 2017, Pollock batted .266 / .330 / .471 in 413 at-bats, with 6 triples (9th in the NL), 14 home runs, and 49 RBIs, playing center field. (19)
In 2018, Pollock hit .257 / .316 / .484 in 413 at-bats with 21 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 7 sacrifice flies (9th in the NL) over 113 games, playing center field. He was also 13 for 15 in stolen base attempts. (14)
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 26th, 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they had signed Pollock to a four–year contract, with a player option for another year. (22)
On April 30th, 2019, the Dodgers placed Pollock on the injured list with a right elbow inflammation(22). He did not rejoin the team until July 12th(23). In September, the Dodgers moved Pollock to left field for the rest of the season(24). For the season he appeared in 86 games, batting .266 / .327 / .468, with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.(14)
The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pollock played in 55 of the Dodgers’ 60 games. On September 16th, Pollock hit his 100th career home run, off of Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres(25). He batted .276 / .314 (a career low) / .566 (a career high) with 16 home runs (3rd in the NL), 12.3 at-bats per home run (5th), and 34 RBIs(14). In the postseason, Pollock had one hit (a double) in five at – bats in the Wild Card Series, three hits in 10 at – bats in the 2020 NLDS, four hits in 20 at bats in the 2020 NLCS and one hit (a double) in six at bats in the 2020 World Series, which the Dodgers won in six games. (14)
On May 2, 2021, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Pollock hit two home runs (including a grand slam) and drove in a career-high eight RBIs(26). Pollock received player of the week for July 5th – 11th, 2021, during the week he had a four–game hitting streak while batting .391 / .462 / 1.043 with three doubles, four home runs and four RBIs(27). For the 2021 season, Pollock batted .297 / .356 / .537 in 384 at-bats with 27 doubles, 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 9 steals (while being caught once), while playing 103 games in left field and eight games in center field(14). In the post–season, he was hitless in three at–bats in the Wild Card Game, had three hits in 11 at-bats (.273) over four games in the 2021 NLDS, and eight hits in 21 at-bats (.381) with two home runs in the 2021 NLCS.(14)
Chicago White Sox
On April 1st, 2022, Pollock was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Craig Kimbrel(28). Overall, in 2022, Pollock appeared in 138 games, hitting to a .245 average with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs. On November 8th, Pollock declined his option for the 2023 season and became a free agent.
Seattle Mariners
On January 12th, 2023, Pollock signed a one–year, $7 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.(29)
Before the trade, Pollock appeared in 49 games for Seattle, batting .173 / .225 / .323 (all career lows), with 5 homers and 15 RBIs.
San Francisco Giants
On July 31st, 2023, Pollock and Mark Mathias were traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later(30)(31). Pollock went hitless in five games for the Giants before he was released by the team on September 5th.(32)
International Career
Pollock played for the United States national baseball team at the 2011 Pan American Games. (33)
Coaching Career
On March 8th, 2024, it was announced that Pollock had joined the Seattle Mariners during spring training as a volunteer assistant coach.(34)(35)
Personal Life
Pollock got engaged to his girlfriend, Kate, in March 2014. They met at Notre Dame, where Kate played for the lacrosse team(36). They were married after the 2014 season(37). In May 2020, Pollock and his wife welcomed a premature daughter, and she spent 128 days in the hospital after she was born(38). The family resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
For more on A.J. Pollock’s baseball statistics,
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