A. J. Pollock

A. J. Pollock
Pollock with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 11
Center fielder
Born: December 5, 1987 Hebron, Connecticut
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 2012, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics (through 2015 season)
Batting average	.294
Home runs	37
Runs batted in	146
Stolen bases	66
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2015) Gold Glove Award (2015)

Allen Lorenz "A. J." Pollock (born December 5, 1987) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2012. Pollock was an MLB All-Star and won a Gold Glove Award in 2015.

High school career

A. J. Pollock was born on December 5, 1987 to parents Al and Karen Pollock.^[1] His family lived an hour and forty minutes away from Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Pollock and his father would routinely make the trip to watch New England Patriots' home games.^[2]

Pollock attended Regional Hebron Andover Marlborough High School in his hometown of Hebron, Connecticut. At RHAM High, Pollock 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 RBI, 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. 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 and led the team in hitting and stolen bases and was a First-Team All-Big East Conference as a center fielder. Pollock then played in the summer for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League where he hit .377 and was named MVP of the league. In his junior season 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 second player ever to lead the team in batting average for three consecutive years.^[5][6]

Professional career

Pollock with for the Reno Aces in 2012

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Pollock in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.^[7]

He was invited to spring training in 2010, but broke his right elbow while attempting to make a diving catch. Pollock missed the entire season due to the injury.^[8][9]

Pollock was called up to the majors for the first time on April 18, 2012 and made his debut that day.^[10] Batting as a pinch hitter for Justin Upton, Pollock collected his first career MLB hit, a single, on April 23 against the Phillies. He would play in 31 games that season for the Diamondbacks, batting .247 with two home runs and eight RBI.

In 2013 Pollock batted .269 with 8 home runs and 38 RBI over the course of 137 games.

Pollock missed the second half of the 2014 season with an injury.^[11] Up to that point in the season, he was batting .302. In 2015, he was named a National League All-Star.^[12] He ended the season batting .315 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI. Pollock was signed to a two-year extension worth $10.25 million on February 8, 2016.^[13] Pollock broke his right elbow again at the end of spring training, this time on a slide at home plate.^[8][9] His timetable is he is out indefinitely and may not return this season.

International career

Medal record
Men’s baseball
Competitor for  United States
Pan American Games
	2011 Guadalajara	National team

Pollock played for the United States national baseball team at the 2011 Pan American Games.^[14]

Personal life

Pollock became engaged to his girlfriend, Kate, in March 2014. They met at Notre Dame, where Kate played for the lacrosse team.^[15] They were married after the 2014 season.^[16]

References

1. Piecoro, Nick (July 6, 2015). "Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock makes All-Star team". Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
2. Gilbert, Steve (February 2, 2015). "Pollock thrilled for up-close view to Super Bowl celebration". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
3. Pleskoff, Bernie (April 14, 2013). "Pollock's intangibles enhance his on-field value". MILB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
4. Bunko, Gary (July 6, 2006). "Baseball Player Of The Year: A.J. Pollock, RHAM-Hebron". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
5. "A.J. Pollock". Baseball-Reference.com.
6. "A.J. Pollock Bio - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site". und.com.
7. Jeff Jeffers. "AJ Pollock drafted by Diamondbacks". wndu.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
8. Gilbert, Steve (April 1, 2016). "Pollock 'going to push for' returning this season". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
9. Gilbert, Steve (April 1, 2016). "Pollock breaks elbow, needs surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
10. "Pollock called up, makes first big league start". Arizona Diamondbacks. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
11. "Diamondbacks A.J. Pollock Values Defense Above All Else". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
12. Nick Piecoro (July 6, 2015). "Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock makes All-Star team". Arizona Republic.
13. "Clippard, Diamondbacks agree to $12.25M, 2-year contract". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
14. "USA Baseball Announces 2011 World Cup/Pan Am Roster and Schedule". collegebaseballdaily.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
15. "Pollock proposes during trip to Australia". Arizona Diamondbacks.
16. Amore, Dom (June 3, 2014). "Hebron's A.J. Pollock Was Tearing Up MLB Before Injury". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 2, 2016.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)