The New York Yankees are a strong contender for the title this year. However, they have yet to address a particular weakness in the left field position. Various MLB analysts and reports have connected the team to Jurickson Profar of the Colorado Rockies as a potential solution.
In their quest to find a suitable left fielder, the New York Yankees have explored various possibilities, such as Jake Bauers and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. However, neither player has proven to be a permanent solution for the team in that position. The recent release of veteran Aaron Hicks has further intensified the need for a reliable left fielder. Jurickson Profar, who is being linked to the Yankees, offers not only a proven track record but also superior on-base skills compared to IKF, Bauers, or Hicks.
Adding Jurickson Profar to the roster could potentially resolve the team’s ongoing predicament in left field. Jurickson Bartholomeus Profar, born on February 20, 1993, is a professional baseball outfielder from Curacao. He is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the Colorado Rockies right now. He has also played for the Texas Rangers, the Oakland Athletics, and the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball. Jurickson Profar has played in the MLB and also was part for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in 2013, 2017, and 2023.
The career of Jurickson Profar
Jurickson Profar, originally from Willemstad, has been actively involved in organized baseball since a young age. He gained attention by representing Curacao in the Little League World Series in both 2004 and 2005. At the age of 16, in 2009, Jurickson Profar caught the interest of various teams, some wanting to sign him as a pitcher. However, the Texas Rangers signed him as a shortstop, which was his preferred position. In 63 games for the Spokane Indians in his rookie season as a professional hitter in 2010, Jurickson Profar hit .250 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.
Baseball America ranked Jurickson Profar as the 74th-best prospect in baseball before the 2011 season and as the second-best prospect for the Texas Rangers. He spent the 2011 season playing for the Hickory Crawdads. His exceptional performance earned him a spot representing the Rangers at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game. Baseball America further acknowledged his talent by ranking him as the 12th-best prospect in baseball on their midseason top 50 list.
Jurickson Profar displayed his talents all season long, ending with a.286 batting average, a.390 on-base percentage, and a.493 slugging percentage. He finished the season as the South Atlantic League’s most valuable player after hitting 12 home runs and driving in 65 runs. He also made the 2011 Minor League All-Star squad for Baseball America at shortstop. His impressive play earned him a spot in the All-Star Futures Game in 2012.
Jurickson Profar at Texas
In the later part of the 2012 season, on August 31st, Jurickson Profar received a call-up by the Texas Rangers as part of the expanded major league rosters. He spent his first two years in the majors as a utility player and saw minimal action. In addition to being the youngest active player in the MLB at the time, Jurickson Profar made history by being the first player born in 1993 to play in the league.
During his major league debut, Jurickson Profar filled in at second base for Ian Kinsler, who was sidelined due to back stiffness. In a remarkable first at-bat, he hit a home run-off pitcher Zach McAllister. He went 2-for-4 with a double in the later innings to cap off a strong outing. Jurickson Profar hit .176 with one home run and two runs batted in over the course of nine games. During that time, he primarily played second base (five games) and shortstop (three games).
At the beginning of the 2013 season, Jurickson Profar was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock team. The Rangers put Ian Kinsler on the 15-day injured list and promoted him to the majors in May of that year. Profar hit his second career home run on May 26 against the Seattle Mariners and Hisashi Iwakuma was the pitcher. This was the first time in his major league career that he batted first. Jurickson Profar played in 88 games in 2013, demonstrating his versatility by shifting between shortstop, second base, third base, and left field. In addition, he hit leadoff for 20 contests. During that time, he hit.234 with six homers and twenty-six runs batted in.
Jurickson Profar had an injury at the start of the 2014 season and spent the first 60 days of the year on the disabled list. It was estimated that he would be sidelined until at least the middle of June.
However, on May 22, the Rangers organization made an announcement that Jurickson Profar had suffered a reinjury to his shoulder. Because of this setback, he was unable to play at all during the 2014 campaign. Jurickson Profar had surgery on his shoulder on February 23, 2015, in an effort to fix the problem. The healing process went longer than planned, thus he missed the entire 2015 season and didn’t play in any games.
After missing the first two seasons of baseball due to a shoulder injury, Jurickson Profar was relegated to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on March 21, 2016. The Rangers’ second baseman Jurickson Profar was brought up to fill in for Rougned Odor after Odor was suspended for seven games on May 27, 2016, after an altercation with Toronto Blue Jays second baseman José Bautista. Jurickson Profar went 1-for-5 in his return game that day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On May 31, 2016, against the Cleveland Indians, he hit his first home run of the season. His stellar play while Odor was out of commission won him a permanent roster berth, and Hanser Alberto was demoted to Round Rock as a result. Jurickson Profar showed his adaptability by manning the outfield, the infield, and the outside positions, as well as the designated hitter and third base, in a total of seven games.
Texas limited Jurickson Profar’s playing time until the year 2018 when he finally had the opportunity to participate in over 100 games in a single season, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Oakland Athletics
Following his decade-long tenure with the Rangers organization, Jurickson Profar was traded to the Athletics for the 2019 season. During his time with the Athletics, he primarily played as a second baseman. However, due to his struggles both offensively and defensively, he was subsequently traded to the Padres. Upon joining the Padres, Jurickson Profar underwent a position transition from a utility infielder to an outfielder, predominantly stationed in left field. Notably, in the year 2022, he achieved personal bests in plate appearances and hits, showcasing his growing success in the game.
Jurickson Profar with the Padres in 2021
During the 2020 season with the Padres, Jurickson Profar demonstrated a solid performance, achieving a batting line of .278/.343/.428. He contributed seven home runs and 25 RBIs over the course of 56 games played. Profar showcased his versatility by participating in 39 games as an outfielder, along with 17 games as a second baseman and one game as a first baseman.
After the 2021 season, Jurickson Profar made the decision to continue his journey with the Padres by signing a new three-year contract worth $21 million on January 27, 2021. However, he faced challenges during the season as his performance suffered, reflected in a slash line of .227/.329/.320. In an effort to improve, Jurickson Profar made notable changes during the off-season, modifying his regular training routine and adjusting his batting stance.
After a collision with teammate CJ Abrams on July 7, 2022, Jurickson Profar experienced a distressing incident where he collapsed while leaving the field. As a result, he was put on the seven-day injured list following the concussion protocol. However, on August 9, Profar showcased his exceptional skills when he made a diving catch during the ninth inning, preventing a crucial run from being scored by the San Francisco Giants. This exceptional play turned the tide of the game in favor of the Padres. In the subsequent half of the inning, Jurickson Profar displayed his offensive prowess by hitting a single, setting the stage for his teammate Manny Machado to secure a thrilling victory with a game-winning home run.
Colorado Rockies
On March 21, 2023, Jurickson Profar inked a one-year contract worth $7.75 million with the Colorado Rockies. Recently, he has showcased remarkable consistency at the plate, securing at least one hit in eight out of his last nine games. In addition to his hitting prowess, Jurickson Profar has contributed significantly to the team’s success by recording seven runs batted in (RBI) and scoring five runs during this impressive stretch. Notably, the majority of these outstanding performances have occurred at home, as the Rockies are set to embark on a challenging seven-game road trip after their upcoming game on Sunday. Over the past 30 games, Jurickson Profar has been on a remarkable hot streak, amassing an impressive total of 33 hits. Furthermore, he has had notable success against the Diamondbacks this season, registering four hits across three games against them.
Yankees passed on and subsequent career
The Yankees passed on him and he joined the Padres on September 1, 2023.
Profar’s career trajectory flipped dramatically in 2024 with the San Diego Padres. He played 158 games, posted a .280 batting average, hit 24 home runs, drove in 85 runs, stole 10 bases, and finished with an .839 OPS. Used primarily in left field, he became a middle-of-the-order fixture and one of the Padres’ most reliable bats. The season earned him his first All-Star selection and stood as the most productive offensive year of his career by a wide margin.
The momentum was interrupted in 2025. After signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, Profar was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He returned in July and finished the season appearing in 80 games, batting .245 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, 9 stolen bases, and a .787 OPS. He remained a regular in left field after his return, but the suspension defined his season as much as his on-field production.
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