The Colorado Rockies have signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a one-year contract, after making the announcement on Sunday, March 19. Profar will receive a $7.75 million guarantee, but 400 plate appearances could increase the total to $8.75 million. A physical examination still needs to be done before the deal can be finalized.
Profar represented the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic this spring and batted .231. During his career he played for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and San Diego Padres, his final team.
He was still looking to sign with a team, and the Toronto Blue Jays were one among those, but eventually signed with the Colorado Rockies. Will he cement himself among the best Rockies players of all time?
What can the Colorado Rockies expect from Jurickson Profar
Jurickson Profar, 30, has had a bumpy career but is coming off of what was possibly his best season.
He is obviously not recognized for his power, but rather for his sharp eye and superb bat-to-ball skills.
Last year, Profar had a walk rate of 11.1% and a strikeout rate of 15.7%, both of which were slightly higher than league averages.
His .243/.331/.391 batting line, 15 home runs, and 110 wRC+ last year indicate he was 10% better than the league average hitter overall.
Despite having played all over the diamond in the course of his career, the San Diego Padres primarily used Profar in left field last year. He may have benefited from playing there consistently because he had grades of +2 for defensive runs saved and +1.1 for ultimate zone rating.
Welcome to the Rockies, @JURICKSONPROFAR! pic.twitter.com/ekuycO4pbl
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 21, 2023
Career Until Now
With a three-year contract with an opt-out clause after each season, Profar joined the San Diego Padres for the 2021 campaign. Profar’s first season was a poor one in which he hit just four home runs while getting thrown all over the field.
He chose not to exercise his first opt-out and decided to stay with the San Diego Padres for the 2022 season, which turned out to be much better than expected. Profar’s contract, which was worth $7.5MM, had just one year left when the 2022–2023 offseason began. He chose to forego the $6.5MM contract and opt for the $1MM buyout, leaving that money on the table.
The addition of Jurickson Profar mostly confirms the speculations that Kris Bryant will play right field this season, Yonathan Daza will play center field, and Profar will play left field.
Profar increases the depth of the team as well. Randal Grichuk underwent bilateral sports hernia surgery before the start of Spring Training, delaying the start of his season. Harold Castro, a non-roster utility player, became the top left option throughout camp. Castro may now be used as the versatile left-handed bat he was for the Tigers throughout his five seasons with them.
Who really is Jurickson Profar?
Jurickson Profar was born in Willemstad, Curaçao, on February 20, 1993.
As an international free agent, Profar agreed to a contract with the Texas Rangers in 2009 while still just 16 years old.
Three years later, in 2012, he was brought up to the major leagues and spent the first two seasons as a utility player.
He was ranked as the Rangers’ top prospect for 2013 at the time. Profar missed two full seasons until mid-2016 due to a shoulder ailment.
After receiving a static role at second base for the Oakland Athletics in the 2019 season, Profar was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres in December after underperforming on offense and defense.
The next offseason, he signed a three-year contract to return to the San Diego Padres.
World Baseball Classic Stats
Profar participated in the World Baseball Classic with the Netherlands before signing a free agency contract with the Colorado Rockies, playing alongside players like Andrelton Simmons (Free agency), Jonathan Schoop (Tigers), Xander Bogaerts (San Diego Padres), and Kenley Jansen. (Boston Red Sox).
Jurickson Profar is a career .238 hitter with 78 home runs, 313 RBIs and a .708 OPS over 836 games at the big-league level.
Six Dominican MLB players were asked if the World Baseball Classic or World Series was more important to them
Five chose the World Baseball Classic. One said the same. None of them chose the World Series pic.twitter.com/gXjqX0dPWA
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 16, 2023
How Does The Rockies Roster Looks Like Right Now?
Since the start of camp, the Rockies have added three veterans in hopes of a surprise campaign in the NL West after last year’s 68-94, last-place finish.
They added lefty reliever Brad Hand to a bullpen already bolstered with offseason pickups Brent Suter and Pierce Johnson.
Two weeks ago, the Rockies reached a Minor League contract with corner infielder Mike Moustakas, who entered Sunday 9-for-18 with a home run, three doubles and eight RBIs and is on track to make the Opening Day roster.
Rockies, Jurickson Profar reportedly agree to 1-year deal, per @MLBNetwork Insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/HhV336p7yH
— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2023
Credits on Featured Image: Keith Allison: Flickr, e-mail, Twitter, Instagram, website, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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