text size

The Profar Predicament

Updated: Wednesday, March 13 2013, 05:37 PM CDT
What do you do if your team is so stacked that you can't make room for the top prospect in all of baseball? The Rangers are living that scenario. Call it the "Profar Predicament". It's a good problem to have.

Only 20 years old, Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar has all the tools. He just doesn't have a spot in the Texas infield.

"The things people see in him, they're for a reason," said Rangers outfielder David Murphy. "He wants to be here, but he's not necessarily in the position where we need him to be able to carry a lot of weight right now."

Third baseman Adrian Beltre and starting shortstop Elvis Andrus are two of the of guys keeping Profar from being an everyday Major Leaguer. They are alos the two guys teaching him the most about being a Major Leaguer.

"I see a lot of myself in him when I came up to the big leagues," Beltre told KEYE TV sports. "Whatever knowledge I can pass on to him so he can use it and he can be a better player and better person and know how to handle himself in the clubhouse, I will."

"I came here to learn how they go about their business," said Profar. "On the field and off the field. So I'm doing good."

"Never give up," Andrus advises Profar. "I think he knows that. I talk to him all the time and try to remind him of that and he seems like a kid that loves to work and gets ready to go."

Despite being one of Texas' top hitters this spring, Profar - who did log 17 September at bats for the Rangers a year ago, is likely headed to Triple-A Round Rock.

"It's disappointing for a guy like that who feels like he's ready to be here," said Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman.

The minor league assignment is not one he wants, but like everything else that comes his way, Profar plans to field it cleanly.

"I'm going to go there [Round Rock] and give everything I have," said Profar. "It's the same baseball, so I'm going to go there and do me."

The only thing bigger than Profar's potential is his smile. So whether he's in Arlington or Round Rock, he will brighten up the clubhouse and likely the box score, too.

The Profar Predicament