SAN DIEGO — Jurickson Profar, the Rockies’ new left fielder and leadoff hitter, took his place in the lineup for the first time Sunday in a 3-1 loss to the Padres.
Profar, who went 0 for 3 with a walk, might have never signed his one-year, $7.75 million deal with Colorado had it not been for new Colorado hitting coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens. The two have known each other since Profar was a talented 11-year-old player in his native Curacao.
“He really wanted me to come here, so I listened,” said Profar, who got some exhibition games under his belt in Arizona before joining the Rockies. A delay in obtaining his visa after he played for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic stalled his Rockies debut.
Meulens heads two youth baseball foundations in Curacao and he first heard of Profar when he was a budding Little League talent. Profar played for Curacao in the Little League World Series in 2004 — the year Curacao won it — and also in 2005.
“He and Jonathan Schoop won it,” Meulens said. “Jurickson’s name started to pop up. I started to watch him play and he was a great pitcher with a strong arm. When he was 16, he threw 91 (mph) already. I advised him to sign as a pitcher. He said, ‘No, I want to play shortstop.’ I said, ‘Whatever you want.’ ”
Profar, who played three seasons with the Padres, became a free agent last fall and was looking for a three-year deal. When he was unable to land one he ended up with Colorado.
Meulens, who managed the Netherlands in the WBC, recruited Profar over the winter, telling him about the advantages of hitting at Coors Field.
“I have a facility at home (in Curacao) where he came and hit every day with some of the other guys,” Meulens explained. “We’d talk and he said, ‘You guys are in the mix.’ And I’d say, ‘It’s a good place to hit. I don’t know what you’re waiting on.’ It took a while, but we finally got him.”
Bard update. Closer Daniel Bard, placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday as he deals with anxiety, threw a bullpen session Saturday and his fastball reached 96 mph, according to manager Bud Black. Bard pitched wildly in the World Baseball Classic and his fastball velocity dipped to 93 mph during spring training.
“He threw the ball well, he looked good,” Black said.
Grichuck update. Outfielder Randal Grichuk, who missed all of spring training as he recovered from surgery to repair a bilateral sports hernia, is getting closer to playing in games at extended spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. Grichuk has been hitting, running and fielding without any setbacks. The Rockies are hopeful he can join the team by mid-April.
Padremania. The Padres drew 174,915 fans for the four-game series against the Rockies at Petco Park. Every game was a sellout and the Padres set a franchise attendance record for a four-game series, breaking the mark of 168,171 from April 9-12 in 2015.
Pitching Matchup
Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (4-9, 5.83 ERA in 2022) at Dodgers RHP Michael Grove (1-0, 4.60 in 2022)
8:10 p.m. Monday, Dodger Stadium
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Feltner, 26, had a rough spring training, posting a 9.92 ERA and giving up five homers in 16 1/3 innings. The Rockies are certainly hoping for better results when he gets his first real start of the season. In his 19 starts last season, he had a 6.03 ERA, walking 33 and striking out 82 (he had one relief appearance). Feltner was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA last season against the Dodgers. He’s 2-5 with a 5.68 ERA in 12 career road starts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday that Grove is expected to get up to three starts as a replacement for Ryan Pepoit, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Grove, 26, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Grove made his debut last season and over seven games (six starts), he allowed 15 runs on 32 hits through 29 1/3 inning. He struck out 24, walked 10 and finished with a WHIP of 1.432.
Pitching probables
• Tuesday: Rockies RHP Germán Márquez (1-0, 3.00) at Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (1-0, 3.00), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
• Wednesday: Off day
• Thursday: Nationals RHP Josiah Gray (0-1, 9.00) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-0. 0.00), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM
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