There & Back Again: Former Indian Jurickson Profar's Long Road to Redemption

Baseball wunderkind Jurickson Profar burst onto the national stage in 2012 with a home run in his first major league at-bat for the Texas Rangers; he promptly followed it up with a double in his second. Just 20-years-old at the time and the number one prospect in the sport according to Baseball America, Profar looked like a perennial All-Star in the making. But just as quickly as he had ascended to the top, injuries forced Profar from his perch, and potentially out of the Rangers' future plans.

That thought was unimaginable following his 2010 season with the Indians, when Profar stole the hearts of Spokane fans with his prowess at the plate, wizardry in the field, and thousand-megawatt smile. Profar led the Indians to within one game of the Northwest League Championship, and as would become a trend for him, was named the number one prospect in the league.

He followed up his stellar debut season with a strong year for the Hickory Crawdads (A) in 2011, where he was named South Atlantic League MVP, and an even better year for the Frisco Rough Riders (AA) in 2012. When major league rosters expanded that year, Profar found himself filling in for another former Indian, Ian Kinsler (2003), at second base. He stuck around for just nine games in the big leagues that year, but Rangers fans knew they had something special.

Profar was sent to the minor leagues for some additional seasoning with Round Rock (AAA) in 2013 but rejoined the Rangers for 85 games as a super utility man. Although he hit just .234 in 286 at-bats, Profar flashed enough potential in the field and at the plate that the Rangers traded away Kinsler that offseason in order to free up a spot at second base. It seemed like the time was finally right for Profar to take up his mantle as one of the best players in the game…and then the injuries set in.

Profar started the 2014 season on the disabled list with a shoulder ailment that he suffered during spring training, but with a return expected in June, it looked like just a blip on the radar. It wasn't. He later re-injured the same shoulder in May and was shut down for the rest of the year. Unfortunately for Profar and the Rangers, the next season didn't bring any better news. The team announced in February 2015 that Profar would be undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, ending his season before it even began. Two years gone - just like that.

The shine had officially worn off Profar's status as a top prospect and he found himself replaced at second base by former Spokane Indian Rougned Odor (2011), a fiery player who quickly won over the Texas fan base with his all-out style of play in the field and surprising pop at the plate. Profar not only faced long odds of ever making a comeback from his injuries, but with Odor's emergence and Elvis Andrus entrenched at short, it didn't look like there was a spot for him even if he did make it back. But Profar kept grinding away.

He made his return to baseball with Hickory late in 2015 and followed that up with an appearance in the Arizona Fall League. Profar showed plenty of rust, but had moments of brilliance that reminded fans and the organization just how good he could be. The 2016 season rolled around and Profar found himself in Round Rock, just another prospect in the system - and potential trade bait - with the middle infield of Andrus and Odor set in stone. He played well for the Express, but not great, and many baseball pundits thought that Profar would never wear a Rangers uniform again. But then the hand of fate - technically the fist of fate - changed everything.

Odor's seven-game suspension for his fight with Jose Bautista opened the door for Profar's return to Texas, and while it seemed like it would merely be an audition for other major league teams, Profar quickly showed he didn't plan on complying with that notion. Jurickson picked up multiple hits in 7 of his first 10 games and when Odor returned from his suspension, the Rangers found ways to get Profar in the lineup at designated hitter, third, and even first base.

"He's been a solid baseball player," Texas manager Jeff Banister told reporters following a Rangers win over the Cleveland Indians on May 31. "He's been good in the batter's box, solid on defense and run the bases well. He's shown great energy for a guy who loves to play the game and resilience after being away so long. I'm assuming what I'm seeing is what everybody else saw in the past."

Although it seems like he's been around forever, Profar is still just 23-years-old and only beginning to tap into his vast potential. He's provided a much-needed spark at the top of the lineup and unmatched versatility in the field, playing his way back into the Rangers plans for the rest of the season and beyond.

Profar reached the top of the mountain, plummeted to the bottom, and then picked up himself and started climbing again. He's back where he belongs now and doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon.