In a positive development for the Rangers, Jurickson Profar's performance in the first round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic indicates the infielder/outfielder is well on his way to being prepared for the start of the regular season next month.
Profar, playing for the Netherlands, finished play in Pool A with a .545 average (6-for-11), a team-leading 1.583 OPS, a home run and three RBIs. The Netherlands went 2-1 in Pool A to advance to the second round, which begins this weekend in Tokyo. The Netherlands will play against the Pool B winner at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, live on MLB.TV and MLB Network. 
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
In his first at-bat of WBC '17, Profar smacked a two-run home run to right field in the first inning to spark the Netherlands in a 5-0 win over Pool A host Korea.
Profar then helped the Netherlands to a walk-off win against Chinese Taipei in its second game, drawing a bases-loaded walk.
In the Netherlands' final game of pool play, a 4-2 loss to pool-winner Israel on Thursday, Profar went 3-for-3 with two doubles.
Profar, 24, started all three games in center field and batted second. In three seasons in the Rangers' organization, Profar has primarily played shortstop, while also logging time at the other infield positions, left field and designated hitter.
The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.