Texas Rangers: Calling-Up Jurickson Profar Would Be a Good Decision

How does a team that is just one win away from being tied for the best record in the American League, and that has a six game lead in first place in the AL West, get even better in preparation for a pennant race and postseason run?

For the Texas Rangers, calling-up arguably the best prospect in minor league baseball wouldn’t hurt.

After watching the Baltimore Orioles send one of their position-player prospects, Manny Machado, straight from Double-A to the big leagues, it appears the Rangers may have an interest in doing the same for one of their best prospects.

According to an article by T.R. Sullivan on the Rangers’ website, Double-A prospect Jurickson Profar may be promoted to the major leagues soon in order to fill a void left on the team’s bench after infielder Alberto Gonzalez was sent to Triple-A.

Profar, the Rangers’ No. 1 ranked prospect according to mlb.com, is arguably the best prospect currently in the minor leagues following call-ups this season of players such as Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Machado.

In 111 games at Double-A, Profar is batting .285 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI.

Oh, and he’s just 19 years old.

A performance like Machado's, who is batting .375 with three home runs and seven RBI in 16 at-bats, could be difficult for Profar to match if he is simply being added to the Rangers’ bench for the stretch run of the regular season. 

However, the experience he would gain from receiving a call-up during a pennant race would be invaluable for him as he becomes a potential perennial All-Star for the franchise.

The Rangers have already promoted one top prospect from Double-A to the major leagues this season, when they sent fellow infielder Mike Olt to the big leagues after he hit 28 home runs in the minors.

Olt, who will turn 24 later this month, is another player who, barring a trade, will remain in the Rangers’ lineup well past this season.

Fortunately for the Rangers, having of one of the best records in the AL combined with a deep minor league system has allowed them the opportunity to mix the present with the future.

As Sullivan’s article points out, the Rangers currently have three players on their bench and are lacking some depth at infield positions on their major league roster.  Adding Profar would help fill needs in both of these areas.

However, having Profar and Olt on the roster during the pennant race would also allow the team’s two top position-player prospects to play with the likes of Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz for a few weeks as the season winds down.

Profar and Olt may soon be playing regularly in a lineup that features these players, but both will also likely be on the roster well after these players have either moved on to different teams or have retired from playing all together.

The Rangers’ .278 team batting average currently ranks first in the AL, which means Profar doesn’t need to be called-up to add offense to the roster.

Instead, the team has put itself in a position where they can promote a future All-Star to take part in meaningful major league games rather than finish a season at Double-A and miss the opportunity to learn from proven veterans what it takes to win a division title.

At 19, Profar could return to the minor leagues next season at Double-A or Triple-A if the Rangers wanted, and complete his full progression through the team’s system to the major leagues.

But with Hamilton an impending free agent, a starting rotation whose ERA is the eighth highest in the AL and two teams emerging as challengers in the AL West, this season is a great opportunity to allow another potential cornerstone of the franchise an opportunity to learn from players who have guided the team to consecutive World Series appearances.

Chances are, Profar’s progression will not be ruined if a bench role for six weeks doesn’t go as planned.  If he does well, however, the Rangers will have even more optimism for the future while their top position-player prospect will also have a new found confidence for finding success at the major league level.

Calling-up Profar has low-risk, high-reward potential.  His promotion would be the rare opportunity to improve the team both currently and in the future.

Having a 19-year-old who’s already been part of a division winning team would certainly not be a bad thing for the Rangers this season.