By now we all can recite the sad saga of Jurickson Profar. But – as of now, anyway – TV analyst Tom Grieve isn’t buying a happy ending.
Profar, of course, was not that long ago the Rangers’ 2nd baseman – and perhaps shortstop – of the future. He was a slick fielder with dizzying range. And in 2012 he homered in both the All-Star Futures Game and his first at-bat as a Ranger. But then came serious problems, more than a year away from the game and … here we are.
Still only 22, Profar plans to throw at spring training and compete for a spot on the roster, somewhere. Grieve, however, cautions fans not to get their hopes up.
“I don't think Rangers fans here in Arlington should even expect him to go into spring training with a chance to make the team,” the former GM said last Friday on KRLD-FM. “I think after being out for a couple of years, No. 1, he's got to prove that he's healthy, but No. 2, he's got to kind of get back in the swing of things by playing in some games, and I think he needs to do that by playing on an everyday basis. I think a prefect scenario would be he goes to spring training, he looks great, he plays shortstop, his arm is fine and he goes to Round Rock and he plays every day. And at some point in time during the seaaon he's ready and the need is there, great. If not he gets 550 at bats for a whole season in Triple-A and go from there.”
It’s several steps back from where we all expected Profar to be a couple years ago. But, considering his plight, just playing everyday would be a step in the right direction.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
