Twins notes: Molitor seeks right fit for Polanco

Twins manager Paul Molitor on Saturday talked about what makes Jorge Polanco an interesting prospect.

"He's a guy, we think, whose bat is going to play," he said.

But the Twins have yet to put Polanco's bat in play for any stretch of time. Polanco was called up from Class AAA Rochester on Thursday when Eduardo Nunez was traded to San Francisco, and Molitor doesn't want him to waste away on the bench during his latest stint in the majors.

"We are just going to have to find a fit for him somewhere along the way," Molitor said. "So we might have to wait for an opportunity to try to get more consistent play. [But] we'll try to get a little better look at him this time around between now and the end of the season if we can."

Polanco, 23, was called up from Class A Fort Myers for five games in 2014 when the club was in a jam for an infielder. Last season, he was called up twice — in June when Eddie Rosario was on paternity leave and July when Trevor Plouffe was on paternity leave. He played in four games.

Polanco, who was batting .276 with nine home runs and 39 RBI for Rochester, has been called up four times this season. He appeared in 13 games over his first three stints.

The Twins still don't know what they have in Polanco, and he will be out of options next year. So Molitor wants to work Polanco into the lineup when he can. Polanco was in the lineup as the designated hitter on Saturday against the White Sox and went 2-for-5 with two singles. He also could see action at shortstop, second base or third base.

"He's got enough arm to play third," Molitor said.

Molitor already is juggling four outfielders into three spots. Miguel Sano is trying to learn how to be a good third baseman. Plouffe is set to return from the disabled list next week. And Brian Dozier is the mainstay at Polanco's best position, second base. Getting everyone playing time is a daily challenge.

"That's what makes it hard," Molitor said. "We want to see where he is at."

Polanco was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, the same year the Twins inked Sano and Max Kepler to international deals. The three have yet to appear in a game together, but that might be happening soon.

Sano is in a 2-for-14 skid during the homestand, so he landed on the bench Saturday for the second time in three days.

Over his past three games, Sano has failed to draw a walk and has struck out nine times. And part of his game is drawing walks. Several strikeouts have come with runners in scoring position. Hitting coach Tom Brunansky said earlier in the week that Sano was getting too aggressive in RBI situations when he can just drive in a run with a well-placed ground ball.

• The White Sox made it official on Saturday that lefthander Carlos Rodon will start Sunday's series finale.