Surprise, Ariz. — Jurickson Profar has made the call to skip the World Baseball Classic and stay with the Texas Rangers for all of spring training.
Profar had been debating the decision for a few days, and chose the one that gives him the best shot to make the Opening Day roster. Profar didn’t want to discuss his decision Monday. The Curacao native turned down an opportunity to play for the Netherlands.“It was a tough decision for him and we left that decision up to him,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “He understands the landscape and the situation and he communicated to us that he wants to put himself in the best position to make the club.”Manager Ron Washington was proud of Profar for becoming a “grown man” by making that type of decision.“When I go out there, I will give him a hug,” Washington said. “I don’t think there was a wrong decision.”For Profar to make the team, it would have to be in a meaningful bench role, Daniels said. The Rangers don’t want a soon-to-be 20-year-old sitting on the bench when he could be playing every day at Triple A.The Rangers have other internal options for a utility spot, including Jeff Baker, Leury Garcia and Yangervis Solarte, and are still considering options via trade or free agency.Garcia, a natural shortstop, is an intriguing candidate as he can play short, second and third base as well as the outfield. However, the 21-year-old has never played above Double A.“I want to show what I can do and see what happens,” Garcia said. “I feel best at shortstop, but I’ll play wherever they want me to play.”Beltre slowedAdrian Beltre won’t play for the Dominican Republic in the first round of the WBC. He is taking extra caution after tweaking his right calf.Beltre said he first experienced it working out in the off-season, and the Rangers medical staff determined there was some inflammation in the area. It is not considered serious by any means, though.“If it was the middle of the season, I’d be playing right now,” Beltre said. “If I am good to go in the second round, then I can rejoin the team.”General manager Jon Daniels said Beltre is still a full-go for spring baseball activities.Torre praises MadduxJoe Torre always admired Greg Maddux and knew he would be an ideal pitching coach for the United States in this year’s World Baseball Classic.But when Torre called Maddux about the job, he thought he might have dialed the wrong number. After all, his brother Mike is the Rangers’ pitching coach.“He said, ‘Well, let me think about it.’ He called me back the next day and said he’d love to,” Torre said at Cactus League media day held Monday afternoon at Chase Field.“I always just admired how business-like he was and how grounded he was. When I got him over with the Dodgers [in 2008] he was every bit what you hoped he would be.”BrieflyThe Rangers agreed to terms with 11 players Monday, including Wilmer Font ($491,000), Leury Garcia ($490,000), Roman Mendez ($490,000), Mitch Moreland ($502,700), Alexi Ogando ($506,600), Joe Ortiz ($490,000), Martin Perez ($492,000), Jurickson Profar ($491,000), Tanner Scheppers ($493,600), Matt West ($490,000), Coty Woods ($490,000). The team now has four unsigned players – Josh Lindblom, Julio Borbon, Craig Gentry and Engel Beltre.Mike Olt on working in the outfield: “It’s going really good. The biggest thing is your reads to the ball and that’s going to just take time and repetitions.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @drewdavison
