The Mariners' early 2025 MVP has gradually transformed into their secret star

When the Seattle Mariners brought back Jorge Polanco for this season, there were plenty of fans who believed this encapsulated the organization's unambitious/risk-free approach to the offseason. After all, this was a player coming off a 2024 campaign when he set career-worsts in a host of categories, including a .213 batting average, .296 OBP, .651 OPS and 29.2 strikeout rate.

Then the unexpected happened, as Polanco got off to a hot start which saw him leading all hitters with a ridiculous .819 slugging percentage, 1.254 OPS and a 258 wRC+ as we came to the end of April. To say he had rebounded from his off-season knee surgery was an understatement of epic proportions.

Jorge Polanco has a flashback to last season

However, when the calendar flipped to May, Polanco started to cool down which, while anticipated to a certain point, was to the extent that he almost began to freeze. During the next two months, he struggled immensely with a .183 batting average, .503 OPS and a 48 wRC+ and all of the "I told you so" crowd who had kept quiet to begin the season came crawling out of the woodwork.

Well, we're delighted to report that Polanco's story for the 2025 season may well end up having a happy ending after all, based on events during the past couple of months. While not quite at the same level as his scorching hot April, he's proving to be an underrated part of a Mariners lineup that really is stacked:

Since the beginning of July, Polanco actually leads the Mariners with a 149 wRC+, ahead of Julio Rodríguez at 147 wRC, which is really saying something given that J-Rod is having his usual impressive second-half surge. The 2019 All-Star also has a .545 slugging percentage and .892 OPS, which would both project to be career-highs over the course of an entire Major League season.

What's of particular interest about Polanco's contributions since the beginning of July, is that they have effectively coincided with the decision to move him down in the lineup. After hitting second and then fourth earlier in the season, he's now batting fifth or sixth on most nights with a .920 OPS and .965 OPS respectively.

Gamble of bringing back Jorge Polanco works out for both sides

Aside from proving to critics that he's still effective, Polanco also received a boost during the last weekend's road series against the Atlanta Braves, as his 450th plate appearance unlocked a player option for next season. Worth $6 million and with a $750K buyout, he is now in a position to decide whether to return to Seattle in 2026 or (more likely) test the waters of free agency.

These are exciting times for the Mariners, as they pursue a second playoff spot in four years and potentially even a first AL West division title since 2001. And with Polanco continuing to produce almost like a secret star for them, he now represents a more positive encapsulation of an organization which has one of their most potent lineups in years.