Profar was given a tremendous boost of confidence when the Rangers sold Ian Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Prince Fielder, allowing the talented kid from Curaçao to take his place at second base.
His spring training came to an abrupt end when, on March 22nd, while trying to turn over a double play against the Kansas City Royals, he injured his shoulder, worsening a pre-existing injury from 2010 and forcing him to miss time.
As a result, Texas was left without a clear substitute. On May 22nd, the Rangers announced that he had re-injured the shoulder while undergoing therapy and will miss the rest of the year.
He tried to rest and rehab his shoulder, and as a result, he didn’t play at all in 2014. However, the Rangers received more bad news heading into spring training in 2015 when Profar wasn’t ready to go.
With yet another season lost and serious doubts raised about his future, surgery could not be avoided this time.
When Jurickson returned to the Rangers’ lineup in 2016, he played 90 games and was deployed in every position on the field with at least 10 appearances at 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, and LF.
With 5 home runs and 20 RBIs, he batted just.239 for the season. A second straight division title for the Rangers but no playoff appearances for him.
When he began the 2017 campaign with the same job in Texas, he batted just.135 in 15 games by the end of April.
When the Texas Rangers decided on April 30th that he needed regular playing time, they sent him down to the minors and signed Pete Kozma from the New York Yankees to replace him on the roster.
What Nationality Is Jurickson Profar?
Jurickson Profar is Curaçaoan.