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Up soon? : Rangers contemplate Profar call up
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
With highly-touted prospect Mike Olt called up to the Rangers earlier this month, Texas now has a decision to make regarding top prospect Jurickson Profar.
The gifted 19-year-old shortstop has played this season in Double-A Frisco and has a .283 average with 14 homers and 61 RBIs in 112 games for the RoughRiders.
However, with Olt getting limited playing time on the major league club in his short stint on the team so far, Profar might be hard-pressed for action in Arlington.
“There has been some discussion about that,” Ryan said. “Will he be a September call up, will he be prior to that? I couldn’t say, but do I think at some point in time he’ll be here this year? I would say there’s a reasonable chance of that happening.”
With utility bench player Alberto Gonzalez recently being outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for relief pitcher Mark Lowe, the writing could be on the wall after Rangers manager Ron Washington admitted a four-player bench is more desirable than having 13 pitchers on his roster. However, Washington also said call up talks regarding Profar are premature at this point.
“This kid played low A ball last year,” he said. “He’s a talent. There’s no doubt about that. He’s experiencing right now what it’s like to have a full season at Double-A. Until we as the Texas Rangers make a decision that the kid is coming here, I think the speculation is way out of line. This kid should concentrate on playing baseball at [Frisco] and not reading that he’s coming to the major leagues.”
The Rangers are also in the midst of a four-game series against the New York Yankees that has seen Texas score just four runs in 27 innings so far. Add the fact that Michael Young, who has just a .300 OBP and .342 slugging percentage this season, is the lone infielder on the bench and a decision might soon be forced on the big league club.
“It’s not only numbers on the field, it’s the presence, it’s how you make your teammates feel, the way the clubhouse is being run,” Washington said on possibly benching Young. “We’re still in first place. We’re 18, 19 games above .500 and we’re talking of changes?”
With the RoughRiders also sending right-handed pitcher Justin Grimm to the majors earlier this season, Profar would become the third player from Double-A Frisco to be fast-tracked.
RoughRiders manager Steve Buechele said Profar is deserving of a call up.
“If they view [Profar] as a possible piece that can help them in the playoffs in whatever role as a utility player, someone who can pinch hit, get down a bunt, that can play multiple positions, it’s going to be up to them, but I think there’s a chance,” Buechele said. “In the season that he’s had so far, I think a September call up, at least … He’s worthy of that.”
Profar, who has also played at second some this year, became the only Rangers’ prospect to be completely off the table in pre-deadline negotiations in late July and is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball according to ESPN’s Keith Law.
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