Prospects Will Break Your Heart: What Could Go Wrong in 2012: Texas Rangers by Jason Parks

January 5, 2012

by Jason Parks

Prospect #1: SS Jurickson Profar
Background with Player: My eyes
Who: This highly-touted prospect comes from Curacao. Many saw the former Little League World Series star as a pitcher because of his already promising fastball and ability to spin what projected to be a quality breaking ball. Signed as a position player for a bonus of $1.55 million in 2009, Profar exploded in his full-season debut in 2011, showing an advanced feel for all aspects of the game and emerging as a premier prospect in all of baseball.

What Could Go Wrong in 2012: Not that Profar is all polish and no projection, but unlike most teenaged prospects, the gap between his representational present and his abstract future isn?t as wide. As such, Profar isn?t going to continue his physical tool-based ascent at the same accelerated pace. That isn?t to say his status isn?t legit; in fact, it?s quite the opposite. Profar is a rare breed of prospect, one that combines all the physical characteristics of a future first-division major-league starter, with the intense desire to not only reach those heights, but to ultimately eclipse them. This might seem like an odd thing to criticize, but the intense desire to be the best might end up being a hindrance in the short term, even if the #want makes him a better player in the long term.

I?ll explain: I?ve watched Profar since his first Arizona practice, and I?ve never seen a young player take such responsibility for the actions taking place on the field, so much so that his vocal style of leadership and high standards have a tendency to rub some the wrong way. Like his idol in the organization, Elvis Andrus, older players don?t always welcome eager leadership from the youngest player on the team, especially if those players have engaged in leadership roles in the past. Profar doesn?t let his age or lack of professional experience deter his style of play or approach, but for the 2012 season, his determination to succeed as a player and reach the majors at an Elvis-like age could lead to a few setbacks, both on and off the field.

As a prospect who will no doubt advance to High-A (with a chance of playing in Double-A before the summer is over), Profar will be facing more advanced competition and will be forced to adjust accordingly. In the past, Profar has shown an almost preternatural ability to play up to the level of competition he is facing. But failure isn?t something that Profar takes lightly, and with a more advanced challenge comes the possibility of more advanced failure. What could go wrong is that Profar could press, feeling like he is letting himself down and falling behind the timetable he has defined. Nobody loves Profar more than Profar, and the response to any substantial setback (injury, poor performance, professional assignment) will be very telling.

Again, I?m not really worried about his physical gifts; Profar has the skills to play shortstop at the highest level, with a very strong arm, a slick glove, and instincts that suggest his midichlorian count is higher than that of his contemporaries. Profar possesses a mature approach, can barrel the ball from both sides of the plate with contact ability, and has enough pop for at least average power projections. He lacks elite tools, but the total package is very advanced, and as I mentioned, the desire to be the best shortstop in baseball is tattooed on his heart. However, such precocious abilities and standards can create an environment where success isn?t always attainable on his schedule, and in 2012, Profar just might be his own worst enemy, allowing his own #want to impede the natural course of the developmental process.

Prospect #2: LHP Martin Perez
Background with Player: My eyes
Who: Once considered one of the top lefties in the minors, Perez has seen his stock drop a bit in the past few seasons since he has failed to dominate the upper levels of the minors when his skill set suggests domination is possible. Signed out of Venezuela in 2007, Perez is on the cusp of reaching the majors, which should occur at some point in the 2012 season.

Source: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15783

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