SAN DIEGO — Rockies manager Bud Black has yet to meet Jurickson Profar, the club’s new left fielder and switch-hitting leadoff hitter.
As of Friday, Profar was still at the club’s complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., “getting in baseball shape” after a delay getting him into the United States.
While there is no exact timetable as to when Profar will join the Rockies, Black is confident Profar will boost the offense when he finally arrives.
“We like his on-base percentage, the on-base tool, sets him up for that spot,” Black said before Friday night’s game between the Rockies and Padres at Petco Park. “He’s got a little bit of sneaky pop. He’ll take a walk and has a little bit of gap-to-gap power. He’s a good ballplayer.”
Colorado’s No. 1 offseason goal was to sign an outfielder who could lead off and provide a bit of power. It remains to be seen if Profar will deliver, but he’s coming off a fairly solid 2022 season with the Padres, slashing .243/.331./391 with 15 home runs, the most he’s hit since 2019.
Profar opted out of the final year of his contract with the Padres and became a free agent in search of a three-year deal. When that didn’t happen, the Rockies were able to sign him to a one-year, $7.75 million contract (with an additional $1 million for reaching 400 plate appearances). He’ll fill a hole in the lineup caused by injuries to outfielders Randal Grichuk and Sean Bouchard.
Profar has played in 144 career games as a leadoff hitter, batting .256/.321/.402 with 15 homers, 33 doubles and three triples. Last season, he slashed .262/.333/.412 with nine homers and 25 doubles in 405 plate appearances from the top of the order.
Profar didn’t sign with Colorado until after playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. But the native of Curacao was delayed getting his visa to the United States and the Rockies wanted him to get at-bats in minor league games in Arizona.
Power play. In Thursday’s season-opening 7-2 victory over the Padres, Kris Bryant, Charlie Blackmon and C.J. Cron, the Rockies’ two-three-four hitters in the lineup, combined to go 10 for 15.
In the seventh inning, Cron and Elehuris Montero recorded back-to-back home runs, the third time in franchise history that Colorado launched back-to-back homers on opening day. The other times it happened were in 2016 with Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez did it (at Arizona), and in 2009 when Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta went back-to-back (also at Arizona).
Pitching Matchup
Rockies RHP Jose Urena (3-8, 5.01 ERA in 2022) at Padres RHP Michael Wacha (11-2, 3.32)
6:40 p.m., Saturday, Petco Park
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Urena, working to hone his slider, did not have a good spring, at least by the numbers, posting a 6.52 ERA in five Cactus League starts. The right-hander was 1-3 with a 4.20 ERA in nine road starts last season and was 0-1 with a 3.30 ERA in two starts against the Padres. In seven career starts against San Diego, Urena is 1-4 with a 3.72 ERA.
Wacha, a late signing by the Padres, started 23 games last season with Boston, one of the few bright spots in the Red Sox season. He signed a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $26 million to bolster the Padres’ rotation. Wacha throws a mid-70s changeup that consistently grades out as the most effective pitch in his four-pitch mix.
Probable pitchers
• Sunday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (5-7, 5.56 in 2022) at Padres RHP Seth Lugo (3-2, 3.60), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM
• Monday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (4-9, 5.83) at Dodgers TBD, 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
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