Jurickson Profar

Jurickson Barthelomeus Profar, a professional baseball player currently signed with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB), was born in Willemstad, Curacao, on February 20, 1993. The ever-dedicated sportsman rose through the ranks in the world of Baseball, having previously played for MLB teams such as the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and the Texas Rangers.

Profar has been involved with baseball since his childhood. His introduction to the sport at a young age was not without fruit as he represented Curacao in two Little League World Series in 2004 and 2005. As part of the Pabao Little League team, he brought laurels to Willemstad, Curacao, in the 2004 championship match against the Conejo Valley East Little League team from California. In 2005, he successfully led his team again to the championship match, this time against the West Oahu Little League from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, but was unable to secure a win for his team.

When he was just sixteen, Profar signed with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent in 2009, marking the beginning of his professional career. Although other teams expressed interest in signing him as a pitcher, Profar’s preference for shortstop was respected by the Rangers. He spent time playing for the Spokane Indians during his first year and demonstrated his potential by batting .250 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in across the span of 63 games.

As the seasons went by, Profar continued to grow in skill and stature. His outstanding performance earned him a call to the major leagues, where he played as a utility player for the Rangers in 2012. However, an unfortunate shoulder injury sidelined Profar for two full seasons. It wasn’t until mid-2016 that he was able to rejoin the Rangers and fill an active roster vacancy.

Even after his recovery, Profar struggled to secure regular playtime within the Texas Rangers until 2018. It was in this season that he played over a hundred games for the first time in his professional baseball career. Unfortunately, his decade-long association with the Rangers organization came to an end when he was traded to the Athletics.

During his stint with the Athletics, Profar played primarily at second base, having a more static role than that in the Rangers. Despite his best efforts, Profar battled with poor stats both on offense and defense and was traded to the San Diego Padres. This move changed Profar’s position on the field from a utility infielder to an outfielder. Despite the change, 2022 ended up being a milestone year for Profar, as he set new career highs in plate appearances and hits.

Profar briefly joined the Colorado Rockies, but he found his way back to the Padres in time to secure a spot in his first All-Star Game in 2024. Professionally, he found success with the Padres, making a remarkable comeback in the sports field. In addition to his achievements in the major leagues, Profar also represented the Netherlands in the 2013, 2017, and 2023 editions of the World Baseball Classic, proving himself a vital player for his team.

A shoulder injury forced Profar to be sidelined for a total of two years in his career, but his dedication and perseverance saw him through to rejoin the sport successfully. Hailing from a family passionate about baseball, Profar wasn’t alone in his endeavor to represent Curacao in the Little League World Series. His two younger brothers, Juremi and Jurdrick, followed in his footsteps to not only play in the Series but also make their mark in the world of professional baseball. Despite hurdles in his career, Profar continues to have an impactful career in Major League Baseball, going from strength to strength. His journey serves as an inspiration to both budding athletes and veteran players alike.