Texas Rangers: Will Jurickson Profar Stick at First Base?
By Tj Porreca
Former Texas Rangers top prospect Jurickson Profar started his first career game at first base on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. With Profar on a roll, will the former infielder stick at first base?
Not long ago, Jurickson Profar was the Texas Rangers‘ prized prospect and regarded as the best prospect in all of baseball. Profar, who once played in the Little League World Series, came up as a shortstop, but the presence of Elvis Andrus pushed Profar over to second base, and a utility role.
Over the past few years, Profar suffered shoulder injuries that forced him to miss multiple seasons. When Profar was nursing a surgically repaired shoulder, Rougned Odor was given a chance with the Rangers and is now an established major league player at second base. Profar returned this season and is in the major leagues for the first time since 2013.
Profar filled in at second base for Odor when Odor was serving his suspension. But with Odor back, and first baseman Prince Fielder simultaneously struggling, Profar found himself at a new position: first base. On Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, Profar led off for the Rangers and started at first base.
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The Rangers had a bit of a conundrum on their hands once Odor returned. From a performance perspective, it would have made little to no sense to send Profar back to the Minor Leagues. In his short stint with the Rangers so far, he is hitting .370/.383/.630. In 94 major league games prior to this season, Profar had seven total home runs. While he’s not known for his power, Profar has two home runs in just 11 games this year. He also has two triples, and prior to this stint Profar didn’t have any at the major league level.
Profar was held in such high regard prior to his injury for good reason. He’s a gifted athlete and could have had the chance to stick at shortstop if the Rangers didn’t have Andrus in 2012, or stuck at second base had he not suffered multiple injuries. But baseball is a game of opportunities, (Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig, anyone?) and Odor took advantage of his opportunity to take the second base job when given the chance. But that left Profar without a defined role.
If Profar continues to hit, he certainly could stick at first base. Playing shortstop is the most athletically demanding position on the infield, and first base, by comparison, is simpler. There are intricacies with footwork that are different than other spots around the diamond, but it sounds like Profar is adjusting decently.
Regarding Profar playing first base, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said via ESPN.com: “I know he can play catch, so he’s going to catch balls thrown to him. He’s played shortstop and third base, so balls in the dirt are probably not that much of a challenge. It’s the footwork that’s a little bit different. He showed signs the footwork [is] OK, and I feel confident the instincts and awareness are going to allow him to play over there.”
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Profar gets his shot at first base at a time when Prince Fielder was hitting .193/.261/.292 in 54 games this season. Fielder has just three home runs and 29 RBI and has recently been relegated to the Rangers’ bench. Fielder’s struggles have opened up a door for Profar, and if Profar continues to produce, the Rangers should continue to play him.