Top prospect Profar stars in field, has not wowed Rangers at plate

On top of all the tools that have made Jurickson Profar baseball’s No. 1 prospect — as rated by Baseball America and mlb.com — the Round Rock shortstop also appears to be a fast healer.

A day after leaving the game against the 51s in the middle of his at-bat with a hyperextended left thumb, Profar was back in the Express starting lineup Wednesday at Cashman Field, where the 20-year-old showed off some of his special skills.

After singling and scoring in each of his first two at-bats, Profar made two dazzling defensive plays for the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate before capping his night with a sharp single up the middle that nearly knocked down the pitcher.

The 6-foot, 165-pound native of Curacao — the same Caribbean island that produced 10-time Gold Glove award winner Andruw Jones, baseball’s top prospect in 1996 and 1997 — turned a double play in which he took the relay with his back to first base and blindly threw the ball to the bag before he’d spun around.

Profar also robbed Collin Cowgill of a hit when he ranged deep in the hole at short for the ball and gunned him down off his back foot from shallow left field.

“His baseball awareness is what sets him apart,” Express manager Bobby Jones said. “He knows situations and he knows what he has to do with the ball. He’s ahead of his years.”

Profar, who was 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and a throwing error in a 6-5 loss to Las Vegas on Thursday, led Curacao to Little League World Series title games in 2004 and 2005, carrying his country to its only championship in 2004.

“It was a big thing for us,” the low-key he said. “We were little kids, it was our first time in the U.S. and we did a great job. It was fun.”

Signed at age 16 as an undrafted free agent in 2009, Profar has enjoyed a strong, steady climb through the Rangers’ minor league system, rising a level in each of his first four seasons.

He earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Class-A South Atlantic League in 2011, when he hit .286 with 12 homers, 65 RBIs, 86 runs and 23 steals for Hickory (North Carolina), and Profar put up similar numbers for Double-A Frisco (Texas) last season, when he had a 29-game hitting streak and 50-game on-base streak.

Profar made his major league debut with Texas last year — at 19, he was the youngest active player in the big leagues — and homered off Cleveland’s Zach McAllister in his first plate appearance.

After a slow start this season, the switch hitter has picked it up recently for Round Rock and is batting .234 in 29 games. He has two homers and 13 RBIs.

“It’s different baseball here (in Triple A). You’ve got a lot of old guys and a lot of offspeed (pitches),” Profar said. “In every count, they throw offspeed. You have to make an adjustment.

“I’m hitting the ball good every day, so I’m happy.”

Jones said Profar is worthy of his top prospect ranking and is impressed that he’s in the Pacific Coast League at such a young age.

“He’s only 20 years old in the PCL. We’ve got guys here who have pitched in the big leagues for four or five years,” Jones said. “He’s got all the tools. It’s just a matter of him putting them all together.”

Baseball guru Peter Gammons has described Profar as having Hanley Ramirez’s ability and Dustin Pedroia’s makeup.

Profar, who also can play second base, pronounced himself ready for the majors, but the Rangers will have to move shortstop Elvis Andrus or second baseman Ian Kinsler to make room for him and Texas has signed both to lucrative long-term contracts.

“I’m happy for them,” Profar said. “Andrus is a great friend of mine.”

The Rangers have discussed moving Kinsler to first base or the outfield to make room for Profar and there also has been speculation that Profar could be packaged in a trade this season for Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton or Rays pitcher David Price.

In either case, Jones believes Profar would greatly benefit from a couple more months in Triple A.

“Hitting .230 in the PCL, you’re not ready (for the majors), but he’s hit some balls hard. He’s picked it up. The swing is coming,” he said. “He should stay here and get some experience with these older pitchers.

“He’s a hard worker. The kid’s hungry. It’s just a matter of time before it all comes together.”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.