After spending the biggest part of the 2017 season at AAA, Jurickson Profar made the Opening Day roster of the Texas Rangers. The 25-year old Curaçao native will fill the roster spot as a utility player.
Before the start of Spring Training, Rangers GM Jon Daniels said that he expected Profar to be on the Opening Day roster and that he would not be shopped. Because Profar is out of options, meaning that the Rangers can not send him right down to the minors anymore, his case may be unsure. The only option for the Rangers to send Profar down is to let him make the Opening Day roster and then remove him from the 40-man roster and expose him to outright waivers.
Profar was one of the Rangers most promising players before he was hit by the injury bug as he tore a muscle in his right shoulder. After long rests and setbacks, the Rangers decided that he should have surgery in 2015. After spending the biggest part of the 2015 season on the DL, Jurickson played 12 rehab games in the minors. The Rangers also sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get some rhythm. When back with the Rangers in 2016, he hit a disappointing .236 for the season. He also spent time at the Rangers’ AAA affiliate in Round Rock where he hit .284.
Barring injuries, there will be a slim chance Profar will get a lot of playing time at the middle infield positions since Roughned Odor averaged 151 games at second base in the past two seasons and Elvis Andrus averaged 152 starts at shortstop in the past five seasons. Even though Profar is listed as an infielder on the roster, don’t be surprised if he gets playing time in the outfield as well. With a few other players could be taken into consideration for the position of utility player, it remains to be seen what will happen to Profar in the near future. Perhaps it is time for the Rangers to trade him to a club that can use him as an everyday player.
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