Polanco receiving his ALCS MVP award in 2006.
Placido Polanco was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round of the 1994 MLB Draft from Miami-Dade College (NJCAA). Polanco is a two-time MLB All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award Winner, a Silver Slugger, and the 2006 ALCS MVP with the Detroit Tigers. While clarifying that sacrifices must be made to achieve the dream of reaching the Major Leagues, Placido shared his scarce living resources in his four-year stint in the Minor Leagues.
"This is what happens in the Minor Leagues. If you are not a big bonus player you have to share an apartment...with 3 other players to save some money, do the groceries together and on and on. I was getting checks of 800 dollars a month when I played in the Minor Leagues, but when they put you in the 40 man roster things change a little bit. (It) is a big raise. If I remember well, (the raise) was like from 800 dollars to close to 2000 dollars. Hey, but nobody said it was going to be easy either. It's a sacrifice that you have to go through if you want to be in the big show and it's (certainly worth it)."
- Placido Polanco