Jurickson Profar

Jurickson Profar

Profar with the Texas Rangers in 2016
Texas Rangers – No. 19
Infielder
Born: (1993-02-20) February 20, 1993
Willemstad, Curaçao
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2012, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through September 8, 2016)
Batting average .241
Hits 131
Home runs 12
Runs batted in 46
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jurickson Barthelomeus Profar (born February 20, 1993) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball infielder for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early years

Profar participated in both the 2004 and 2005 Little League World Series. He helped the Pabao Little League team from Willemstad, Curaçao beat the Conejo Valley East Little League team from Thousand Oaks, California to win the championship in 2004. He helped lead the team to the championship game again in 2005, but this time lost to West Oahu Little League from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.[1]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Profar signed with the Texas Rangers on July 2, 2009.[2][3] Other teams wanted to sign Profar as a pitcher, but the Rangers signed him as a shortstop, his preferred position.[4] He spent his first professional season in 2010 playing for the Spokane Indians. He hit .250 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in in 63 games.

Prior to the 2011 season Profar was ranked by Baseball America as the Texas Rangers second best overall prospect and the 74th best overall.[5][6] He played the 2011 season for the Hickory Crawdads. He was selected to represent the Rangers at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game.[7] Baseball America ranked him as the 12th best prospect in baseball during their midseason top 50 list.[8] He finished the season hitting .286/.390/.493 with 12 home runs and 65 runs batted in and was named the South Atlantic League MVP.[9] He was named the shortstop on Baseball America's 2011 Minor League All Star team.[10] He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.[11]

Texas Rangers

2012

On August 31, 2012, Profar was called up to the Rangers as major league rosters expanded and as a possible postseason addition. He is the first player born in 1993 to play in the majors and was the youngest player active in the major leagues.[12] In his major league debut, Profar started at second base in place of Ian Kinsler, who was out due to back stiffness, and hit a 388 foot solo home run off of Zach McAllister in his first major league at bat. He then later doubled in his second at-bat, and went 2 for 4 for the game. In 9 games, Profar batted .176 with a home run and 2 RBI.

Profar playing for the Texas Rangers in 2013 spring training

2013

Profar started the 2013 season in Triple-A Round Rock. In May 2013, the Rangers called up Profar while putting Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list. In a May 26 game at Seattle, he hit his second career home run off Hisashi Iwakuma while batting leadoff for the first time in his major league career.[13] In 88 games, Profar batted .234 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI.

2014

After the 2013 season, the Rangers traded Kinsler, which could allow Profar to become the Rangers' starting second baseman.[14]

Profar started the 2014 season on the 60-day disabled list, and wasn't expected to make a return until mid-June. On May 22, the Rangers organization announced Profar had reinjured his shoulder, and as a result missed the entire 2014 season.[15]

2015

On February 23, 2015, Profar underwent surgery on his shoulder and missed the entire 2015 season.[16]

2016

Beck batting for the Round Rock Express, triple-A affiliates of the Rangers, in 2016

After missing a total of two seasons due to the shoulder injury, Profar was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock Express on March 21, 2016. On May 27, 2016, the Rangers called Profar up to the majors as a replacement for Rougned Odor, who was suspended by the MLB for 7 games for punching the Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista. Profar went 1 for 5 in his return against the Pittsburgh Pirates the same day. He hit his first homerun of the season on May 31, 2016 against the Cleveland Indians. [17] His performance during Odor's suspension earned him a regular roster spot. Upon Odor's return from suspension, Hanser Alberto was optioned to the minors.

Since his return Profar has played, in addition to his normal 2B and SS positions, 3B, 1B, and the outfield (the latter two for the first time in his major league career).

International career

After Team Netherlands advanced to the semi-finals for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, manager Hensley Meulens made a public plea to have Profar on the Dutch roster since Profar was born in Curacao. The Rangers gave permission for Profar to be on the roster shortly after.

Personal life

Profar's younger brother, Juremi was signed by the Rangers in 2012.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Former Little League Baseball World Series Standout Jurickson Profar Makes His Mark in First Professional Baseball Season". Littleleague.org. October 1, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Latin American Talent Market: Financial Shadows Lurk As Rangers Ink Jurickson Profar". Bbtia.com. July 3, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Daily Dish: Jurickson Profar Paying Off For Rangers". Baseballamerica.com. May 26, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Rosenthal: Blue Jays should make Red Sox pay for Farrell - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN". Msn.foxsports.com. September 10, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ Fitt, Aaron (December 1, 2010). "Baseball American Texas Rangers Top 2011 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ "2011 Top 100 Prospects: 61-80". Baseballamerica.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Perez, Profar represent Texas in Futures Game". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Midseason Top 50 Prospects List". Baseballamerica.com. July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ Bowman, John (December 8, 2011). "Rangers' top prospect Jurickson Profar is the Sally League MVP: Fan's view". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  10. ↑ J.J. Cooper and Matt Eddy (September 16, 2011). "2011 Minor League All-Star Team". Baseball America. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (May 24, 2013). "Prospects pack rosters for 2012 All-Star Futures Game | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Rangers Make Heralded Jurickson Profar The Youngest Player In the Majors". Atlantablackstar.com. September 1, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  13. ↑ Fort Worth Star-Telegram (May 26, 2013). "Foul Territory: Sunday's Rangers-Mariners lineups: Jurickson Profar batting first". Sportsblogs.star-telegram.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ Miller, Doug (November 22, 2013). "Blocked no more, talented youngsters ready to shine: Tigers' Castellanos, Rangers' Profar among those with apparent clear paths to bigs". MLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ Sullivan, T.R. (May 22, 2014). "Prince out for season; Profar likely done, too". MLB.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ Sullivan, T.R. (February 23, 2015). "Profar to miss season after shoulder surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  17. ↑ Wilson, Jeff. "Profar begins 2016 season in Minors.". http://www.star-telegram.com/. Star Telegram. Retrieved March 21, 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  18. ↑ "Rangers sign 16-year-old brother of top prospect Jurickson Profar". Dallas Morning News. September 6, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
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