Rangers notes: Profar has yet to make call on World Baseball Classic

By Drew Davison

ddavison@star-telegram.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Jurickson Profar remains undecided about playing in this year's World Baseball Classic.

It's a decision the Texas Rangers' infield prospect clearly is weighing heavily, whether to compete on an international stage for the Netherlands or stay in Rangers camp to boost his chances of making the team.

"It's tough," said Profar, who arrived at spring training Friday. "There are a lot of things."

Profar, who turns 20 on Wednesday, said he has to make a decision by the middle of next week. The Dutch team begins play the first week of March in Japan. He admitted that fans and others in his native Curacao hope he picks the WBC.

"They want me to play," Profar said.

As far as the Rangers' stance, Profar said: "They didn't tell me anything. They just told me the decision I made, they were behind it. They were supporting me."

Manager Ron Washington understands the pressure on Profar to make that kind of decision, but wasn't ready to give his input on it.

"That's a decision Jurickson Profar needs to make, not Ron Washington," Washington said. "I'm OK with whatever he decides."

If Profar stays with the Rangers, he will have a better opportunity to make the big-league team. Even though he's the top prospect in the game, Profar needs to show the Rangers if he can handle a utility role, which would mean not playing everyday, coming off the bench late in games and learning multiple positions.

If he goes to the WBC and the Dutch team is successful, Profar could miss close to three weeks of spring training.

"When it comes down to it, Jurickson has to be comfortable with what happens," Washington said. "And when he makes that decision, he will really, really become a grown man at 19."

In other WBC news, third baseman Adrian Beltre said he still intends to play for the Dominican Republic but that his commitment isn't "100 percent." Beltre said he would have no hesitation pulling out if a minor injury or setback comes up in the next week or two.

Gloveless in Surprise

Nobody saw a Bid McPhee reference coming Friday, but Lance Berkman provided one. It turns out, McPhee is one of Berkman's all-time favorite players. The Hall of Famer is known as the greatest bare-handed second baseman in history.

Berkman joked that he might resemble McPhee the first few days of camp after leaving his gloves at home.

"With my range, I think it'd be perfect," Berkman said, smiling. "It was just an oversight on my part because I'm still fairly new to this switching teams thing."

Berkman might not have used his glove too often at the start of camp anyway. He had two surgeries on his right knee last year, including last September, and considers himself at 80 percent healthy.

Berkman expects to be 100 percent by the end of spring training, but emphasized he would have no problem fielding ground balls today. He said his speed isn't a concern, either, especially if a grizzly bear rumbled through the clubhouse.

"All I have to be is faster than one of you," Berkman told reporters.

Briefly

The Rangers signed international prospect Todd McDonald last month, general manager Jon Daniels said. McDonald, 17, is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound outfielder from Australia who signed for $475,000. He will be at minor-league camp this spring.

Ron Washington on who caught his eye Friday: "[Pitcher] Kyle McClellan. He has a lot of movement. A lot of natural movement."

Drew Davison

817-390-7760

Twitter: @drewdavison

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