Texas Rangers rumors: Jurickson Profar coming up

Texas Rangers rumors: Jurickson Profar is on his way back to the majors, according to Jon Heyman, who says that Adrian Beltre’s ankle injury, which could land him on the d.l., has created an opening for Profar.

It is interesting this is coming from Heyman, rather than one of the local guys, but Heyman often breaks news involving Scott Boras clients, and both Profar and Beltre are represented by Boras.

The Rangers had planned on adding an extra position player heading into the weekend’s series at Washington, which will be played under N.L. rules, and thus will have pitchers batting (and more opportunities for pinch hitting). I had thought Drew Robinson and Brett Nicholas would be the prime candidates for a call up, since they would give the Rangers lefty bats off the bench, and Nicholas would allow the Rangers to use Jonathan Lucroy or Robinson Chirinos in a pinch hitting role while still having a third catcher.

If Beltre goes to the d.l., that would seem to mean two position players coming up, and Profar could end up getting time as a regular in his absence, either at first base or at third base, with Joey Gallo filling the other spot.

Profar broke camp with the Rangers, and was getting regular playing time in left field early on, but struggled with the bat, and may not have fully embraced the notion of being a left fielder rather than a shortstop. The Rangers sent him down once they claimed Pete Kozma