A. J. Pollock’s Journey: From Connecticut Athlete To MLB World Series Champion
Explore the full story of A. J. Pollock from his early days in Connecticut to becoming an MLB All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and World Series champion.
Jul 18, 20252.3K Shares100.6K Views
When you think of a player who excels in both hitting and fielding, A. J. Pollock often comes to mind. Born December 5, 1987 in Marlborough, Connecticut, he became known across Major League Baseball for his smooth swing and his quick speed in the outfield. In 2015 he earned his first MLB All-Star selection and also won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. He played on the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants until 2023. Known for making clutch plays and helping his teams win, he was part of the Dodgers’ World Series victory in 2020.
Early Life
A. J. Pollock was born on December 5, 1987 in Marlborough, Connecticut, to his parents Al and Karen Pollock. He grew up in nearby Hebron, where he watched New England Patriots games regularly with his father, driving nearly two hours to Foxboro.
He attended RHAM High School in Hebron. While there, he played baseball along with basketball and soccer. In his final year, he earned a place in the National Honor Society and was named Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year and state's Player of the Year by the coaches’ association. During his high school baseball career, he achieved a .411 batting average, drove in 55 runs, stole 27 bases, drew 26 walks, and struck out only eight times in 248 at-bats.
College Career
A. J. Pollock attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played baseball as an outfielder and sometimes at third base. In his freshman year (2007), he led the team with a .372 batting average and was named a Freshman All‑American. After the 2008 college season, he played summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League. He led that league in hits, doubles, and slugging, and was named its Most Valuable Player.
In his sophomore year (2008–09), Pollock hit .352 with strong performance in stealing bases. He earned First‑Team All‑Big East honors as a center fielder. In his junior year, he hit .365, had an on‑base percentage of .443 and slugged .610. He also did not commit a single fielding error in 159 chances and stole 21 bases in 25 attempts. Over his three years with Notre Dame, he had a career batting average of .363, scored 157 runs, drove in 122 runs, hit 17 home runs, and stole many bases. He led the team in batting average each year, a rare achievement in Notre Dame history.
Professional Career
A. J. Pollock began his Major League career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in April 2012. Over the next six seasons, he became a key player for Arizona. In 2015, he had his best year: he hit .315, drove in 76 runs, stole 39 bases and earned both an All-Star selection and a Gold Glove award for his fielding.
He stayed with the Diamondbacks through 2018, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. With the Dodgers, he helped win the World Series in 2020 and had a strong 2021 season, batting .297 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs.
In April 2022, Pollock was traded to the Chicago White Sox. That year, he played 138 games, hit .245, knocked in 56 runs and hit 14 home runs. After declining a player option, he became a free agent and in January 2023 signed a one‑year, $7 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Midway through the 2023 season, Pollock was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He played only five games for them before being released in early September 2023. Over his full MLB career from 2012–2023, Pollock appeared in 1,087 games. He collected 1,032 hits, hit 145 home runs, stole 122 bases and maintained a .273 batting average with a .792 OPS.
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