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Biography
Jurickson Barthelomeus Profar (born February 20, 1993) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball infielder for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Early years
Profar participated in both the 2004 and 2005 Little League World Series. He helped the Pabao Little League team from Willemstad, Curaçao beat the Conejo Valley East Little League team from Thousand Oaks, California to win the championship in 2004. He helped lead the team to the championship game again in 2005, but this time lost to West Oahu Little League from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
Professional career
Minor Leagues
Profar signed with the Texas Rangers on July 2, 2009. Other teams wanted to sign Profar as a pitcher, but the Rangers signed him as a shortstop, his preferred position. He spent his first professional season in 2010 playing for the Spokane Indians. He hit .250 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in in 63 games.
Prior to the 2011 season, Profar was ranked by Baseball America as the Texas Rangers second best overall prospect and the 74th best overall. He played the 2011 season for the Hickory Crawdads. He was selected to represent the Rangers at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game. Baseball America ranked him as the 12th best prospect in baseball during their midseason top 50 list. He finished the season hitting .286/.390/.493 with 12 home runs and 65 runs batted in and was named the South Atlantic League MVP. He was named the shortstop on Baseball America's 2011 Minor League All Star team. He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.
Texas Rangers
2012
On August 31, 2012, Profar was called up to the Rangers as major league rosters expanded and as a possible postseason addition. He is the first player born in 1993 to play in the majors and was the youngest player active in the major leagues. In his major league debut, Profar started at second base in place of Ian Kinsler, who was out due to back stiffness, and hit a 388 foot solo home run off of Zach McAllister in his first major league at bat. He then later doubled in his second at-bat, and went 2 for 4 for the game. In 9 games, Profar batted .176 with a home run and 2 RBI.
2013
Profar started the 2013 season in Triple-A Round Rock. In May 2013, the Rangers called up Profar while putting Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list. In a May 26 game at Seattle, he hit his second career home run off Hisashi Iwakuma while batting leadoff for the first time in his major league career. In 88 games, Profar batted .234 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI.
2014
After the 2013 season, the Rangers traded Kinsler, which could allow Profar to become the Rangers' starting second baseman.
Profar started the 2014 season on the 60-day disabled list, and wasn't expected to make a return until mid-June. On May 22, the Rangers organization announced Profar had reinjured his shoulder, and as a result missed the entire 2014 season.
2015
On February 23, 2015, Profar underwent surgery on his shoulder and missed the entire 2015 season.
2016
After missing a total of two seasons due to the shoulder injury, Profar was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock Express on March 21, 2016. On May 27, 2016, the Rangers called Profar up to the majors as a replacement for Rougned Odor, who was suspended by the MLB for 7 games for punching the Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista. Profar went 1 for 5 in his return against the Pittsburgh Pirates the same day. He hit his first homerun of the season on May 31, 2016 against the Cleveland Indians.His performance during Odor's suspension earned him a regular roster spot. Upon Odor's return from suspension, Hanser Alberto was optioned to the minors.
Since his return Profar has played, in addition to his normal 2B and SS positions, 3B, 1B, and the outfield (the latter two for the first time in his major league career).
International career
After Team Netherlands advanced to the semi-finals for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, manager Hensley Meulens made a public plea to have Profar on the Dutch roster since Profar was born in Curacao. The Rangers gave permission for Profar to be on the roster shortly after.
Personal life
Profar's younger brother, Juremi was signed by the Rangers in 2012.