At the MLB Winter Meetings a couple of weeks ago, Texas Rangers GM basically made it clear that former top prospect Jurickson Profar would start the season in the minor leagues, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
The Rangers seem prepared to give fellow youngster Rougned Odor the first dibs on the team's starting second base job after he was promoted last year to get the Rangers out of the mess known as Donnie Murphy and Josh Wilson.
Of course, Wilson and Murphy were being platooned through the first month and a half after the Rangers traded Ian Kinsler to Detroit to clear room for Profar to have an everyday role at second base. Instead, Profar ended up missing the entire season with a torn shoulder muscle and letting Odor pass him up in the minds of several folks in the organization.
Now, Profar wants to be back with the Rangers even though Daniels has pretty much laid out a concrete plan for him to start in the minors and go from there.
“We will see where I’m at in January, when I start throwing and doing all my stuff, and see when I’m ready to play,” Profar told the Star-Telegram after the team’s media luncheon at Bob’s Steak and Chop House at the Omni Hotel in Dallas. “I’m feeling better than I’ve been feeling before. No pain and I’m feeling stronger. I’ve done a lot of things, a lot of training.”
Reports say Profar was approached by a California doctor with the idea that surgery might be a good fix that could prevent further issues, but he decided against it.
“It has been very hard missing a year," Profar said. "I’m confident in myself, and it’s just when I’m ready I’m going.”
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