Profar will not join Rangers in September
Team plans on sending infielder to instructional league, possibly AFL
SEATTLE -- The Rangers have given up on the idea of infielder Jurickson Profar joining them in September. Instead the Rangers pulled Profar off his medical rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday.
Profar has missed the past two seasons with a torn muscle in his right shoulder. He is not ready to play the infield, but the Rangers sent him to Class A Hickory and then Double-A Frisco to see if he could get ready to be at least a pinch-hitter. Profar was 11-for-43 (.256) as a designated hitter over 12 combined games before the Rangers called an end to it on Tuesday.
"We just didn't feel we could get him ready," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.
Profar instead will be sent to the instructional league in Arizona to continue his throwing program. The instructional league begins on Sept. 13 and the Rangers are hoping Profar will be able to play in the Arizona Fall League. He is on the Surprise Sagueros roster and their first game is Oct. 13.
Worth noting
• Triple-A Round Rock begins a best-of-five PCL Division Championship Series on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. Chi Chi Gonzalez and Anthony Ranaudo will pitch the first two games.
• Class A High Desert and Class A Hickory also open their postseason on Wednesday. High Desert is playing a best-of-three against Lancaster in the California League and Hickory faces a best-of-three against West Virginia.
• Rangers pitcher Yovani Gallardo is averaging 17.4 pitches per nine innings, the second highest in the American League. Hector Santiago of the Angels is averaging 17.5.