The foggy circumstances surrounding Jurickson Profar should frustrate fantasy owners
UPDATE 6/6/16: Or the Rangers could bench their $214-million designated hitter, Prince Fielder, Profar could remain in the bigs and pick up six hits including a HR, score three times with two RBI over the weekend. That works, too.
Rougned Odor couldn’t carry Lou Gehrig’s jock, but for the sake of the analogy - Jurickson Profar is walking in Wally Pipp’s shoes – at least for the moment. The Rangers’ current roster construction is all but forcing the organization’s one-time top prospect back to the minors this weekend. For fantasy owners always in search of middle infield upgrades, the lack of further plate appearances is a buzzkill.
Profar filled in for Odor while he served his seven-game suspension for shifting Jose Bautista’s jaw like a tectonic plate. The 23-year-old produced four multi-hit games in six chances with a homer and seven runs scored, while slugging .571. Reasons why the demotion is all but inevitable falls into several buckets:
The Star-Telegram goes into this head spinning analysis of Profar needing at least four games per week to continue his development following the shoulder problems. It's an impossible goal to attain with Odor active. However, before replacing Odor, Profar’s Triple-A efforts were trending upwards. In 42 games, he hit .284 / .356 / .426 with five homers, 28 runs, 26 RBI, and four stolen bases.
To take a step back and as a refresher, here’s what Profar produced in the minors before his 85-game rookie MLB season in 2013:
Fantasy owners saw a lot they liked earlier this decade, but when Profar debuted and played regularly in 2013, he only hit .234 and struck out 20 percent of the time. The lack of fantasy appeal was then a matter of out-of-sight, out-of-mind while his shoulder was carved up in 2014 and 2015. Still, the fact he's only 23 years old and producing consistently in 2016 makes the pending demotion hard to stomach.
What About Profar At Shortstop?
Elvis Andrus is only 27 years old and signed an eight-year, $120-million deal just a season ago. Although, he produced below what was expected in 2015, Andrus is hitting .295 with five stolen bases this season - both rank inside the top 10 among shortstops.
What Fantasy Owners Should Like To See
Profar should be traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Think about the Brewers' speed in the infield in the coming years with Jonathan Villar at third base, top prospect Orlando Arcia at shortstop and Profar at second (sorry, Scooter Gennett).
If Profar can find a situation where regular MLB at bats are possible, he's on my radar so long as he stays healthy. Buy the idea of the stock now (or buy the stock in dynasty leagues) and keep tabs while he's working his way back in the minors.
