TEREN'S TAKE: Jorge Polanco Should Be Considered an Early-Season AL MVP Candidate

SEATTLE — In the bottom of the seventh inning of the Seattle Mariners eventual 9-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, designated hitter Jorge Polanco stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded to a loud ovation from fans.

Polanco fouled out, but but there was an electricity during his at-bat that most players don't have. A sort of positive anticipation for something special that's indicative of the incredible season Polanco has had. It's a feeling that's usually limited to when the best hitters in the game step up to the plate — feelings reserved for MVP contenders.

Last offseason, Polanco's career was at a crossroads. He was coming off one of the worst seasons of his over-decade-long career. He hit 16 home runs and 45 RBIs and slashed .213/.296/.355 in 118 games. He dealt with knee and hamstring issues that limited his production and time on the field.

Polanco underwent offseason surgery on a damaged patellar tendon on his left knee. The Mariners monitored the former All-Star's recovery and brought back Polanco on a one-year, $7.75 million contract. The deal has a $6 million mutual option for 2026 that turns into a player option if Polanco reaches 450 plate appearances in 2025.

"It feels really good," Polanco said in a pregame interview April 29. "They brought me here last year. Not a really good year for us, (thought we'd) make the playoffs, we didn't. But this is a new year. New opportunity. I feel really happy to be back here, I know they are, too. Just happy to be back here. I wanted to be here."

That deal now looks like one of the best team-value contracts in baseball. Polanco already has nine home runs and 25 RBIs this season in 22 games and is slashing .384/.418/.808 with a 1.226 OPS. Polanco isn't technically qualified due to his current number of plate appearances, but that OPS mark is second behind defending American League MVP Aaron Judge (1.282).

"It's awesome. That's the player that he is," Julio Rodriguez said in a postgame interview April 26. "When he's healthy, he's one of the best players in the game. And that's no secret for anybody. He's very fun to watch do what he does on a consistent, daily basis. It's awesome. He's a really good player and, man, he can really hit the ball."