The Opening Day lineup for the Colorado Rockies has been completely transformed this spring, with new faces signed to fill roster holes created by injuries or position switches. That transformation continued on Sunday when the Rockies inked Jurickson Profar to a one-year deal.
Why did the Colorado Rockies sign Jurickson Profar?
The 30-year-old Profar is projected to slot into the top of the Colorado lineup and take over left field, the position where he played in 146 games last season with the San Diego Padres.
Profar’s signing makes sense because of two things happening within the Colorado organization. First, Kris Bryant, hoping to rebound from an injury-filled 2022 campaign, is moving to right field, something that is expected to help keep the wear and tear down on him rather than roaming the expansive left and left-center field areas at Coors Field. Second, the Rockies have yet to find anyone to grab hold of the left field spot this spring, with Sean Bouchard thought to be one of the leaders for the position, but knocked out by a left biceps tear.
With Profar on the roster, the Rockies can now rotate corner outfield spots and designated hitter roles between him, Bryant, and Charlie Blackmon, who is expected to be the team’s primary DH in 2023.
Also, Profar finally gives the Rockies a strong candidate for the leadoff spot, something general manager Bill Schmidt said he wanted to find this offseason.
Profar is the latest veteran to be signed this offseason and likely find a place on Colorado’s Opening Day roster. Mike Moustakas was signed earlier this month and is now projected to be the team’s third baseman as Ryan McMahon slides over to second to take over for Brendan Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Moustakas is 9-for-18 so far this spring, showing he could potentially bring some offense to a Rockies team that finished 2022 with a .398 slugging percentage, marking the first time in franchise history that a Rockies lineup finished with a slugging percentage below .400.
Also expected to make the team is Harold Castro, with the former Detroit Tigers utility man who was signed in January filling a variety of roles for manager Bud Black.
Colorado’s Opening Day roster was expected to be filled with young players setting the stage for the future of the franchise. However, injuries and poor spring performances have set a change of plans in motion, and those changes continue with Profar’s deal.