Fun With Jurickson Profar And Mike Olt (And Other Such Things)

● Parks' impressions of Jurickson Profar from the Futures Game:

SS Jurickson Profar: Called home run before the game; near-elite pure hitter; remarkable bat speed; instincts for barrel-to-ball actions; recognizes pitches very well from both sides of the plate; ultra-competitive; followed Oscar Taveras in batting practice group; visible effort to match the insanely impressive BP session by Taveras; was talking to Peter Gammons during one of his cage cycles who opined that Profar was the top prospect in the game; I agreed; would have agreed regardless of which player he named because he’s Peter Gammons; Profar executed in game action; can shorten swing/alter approach; plays up to the level of competition around him; wouldn’t drown in majors now; shows easy power; 50/55 projection on tool at floor; role 7 player at peak; All-Star at major league level.

● Keith Law lists Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt among his top 50 prospects at mid-season, with Cody Buckel just missing the cut:

1. Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers (age 19)
Current level: Double-A (Frisco)
Preseason ranking: 7

Profar has the ultimate mark of an elite prospect. He keeps improving even as he is challenged with better competition. In this case, the Rangers jumped the 19-year-old two levels to Double-A, where he has continued to hit for average, get on base, make contact, show surprising power for his size, hit from both sides of the plate and play plus defense. There's no real hole in his game, and he looks as if he'll be more than ready for the majors before he turns 21 -- another mark of a potential superstar -- if the Rangers can create a spot for him.

46. Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers (age 23)
Current level: Double-A (Frisco)
Preseason ranking: 75

Plus power and above-average defense at third, although he probably is going to swing and miss a lot, maybe too much for him to be a star but not enough to make him less than a very good everyday player.

● BA's mid-season top 50 prospects had Profar at No. 2 (behind only Dylan Bundy), Olt at No. 11, and Buckel at No. 41. 

● Here, again, is Profar apparently smiling at Olt while rounding third base at the All-Star Futures Game:

● Jairo Beras is a Christmas bonus baby:

The official birthday for Jairo Beras is Dec. 25, 1994.

— Anthony Andro (@aandro) July 12, 2012