Cristopher Polanco ranks as Blue Jays Nation’s 39th-best prospect in 2025 mid-season update
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Aug 22, 2025, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 22, 2025, 06:56 EDT
Cristopher Polanco was given the biggest signing bonus by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 International Free Agency period.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual mid-season prospect list, where we’ll take a look at the 50 best prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. I’ll look at the player’s stats, what other publications have to say, as well as my own observations of the players.
Although Polanco wasn’t the best performing player in the 2025 IFA class for the Jays, he put forward an average first season, albeit with some flaws. The young shortstop ranks as our 39th-best prospect. If you missed the last article, left-handed reliever Javen Coleman ranked as our 40th-best prospect.
Getting to know Cristopher Polanco…
Position: Shortstop
Bats: Left
Born: January 3, 2008
Acquired: 2025 International Free Agency
Previous ranking: 15th (2025 pre-season)
Of any prospect signed by the Blue Jays in the 2025 International Free Agency period, Polanco’s $2.3 million signing bonus was the largest. Heading into free agency, the shortstop ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 22nd-best international prospect.
According to his Pipeline bio at the time, the 17-year-old has a plus hit tool thanks to a fluid swing and fantastic bat speed. He also hits the ball hard, giving him an average power tool. Defensively, he wasn’t seen as an average defender and will likely move to the keystone later in his career, at least according to Pipeline. Other sites, like Fangraphs, note that he’s a plus defender thanks to quick hands, albeit his arm is a little suspect.
Despite being given a 60-grade hit tool, Polanco batted far below the Mendoza line in his campaign season, slashing .177/.392/.232 with no home runs in 222 plate appearances. Thanks to a 23.4 BB%, his on-base percentage was well above average, but he struck out 25.2% of the time and hit just eight extra-base hits; seven doubles and one triple. All in all, Polanco finished with a 96 wRC+.
Seen as a fringe runner, Polanco stole nine bases, but was caught stealing five times for a 64.3% caught stealing percentage, not great either.
The good news is that there’s still plenty of time to develop. Not every IFA prospect will break out like Juan Sanchez did after the Jays signed him for $1 million earlier this year. Development is non-linear, and Polanco won’t turn 18 years old until the third day of 2026. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him back in the Dominican Summer League in 2026.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.