Bryce Miller: A pro’s Pro, Padres outfielder makes a compelling case for first All-Star appearance

Admit it. When the Padres added Jurickson Profar to an unsettled outfield this offseason, you shrugged. You thought, he seems bug-in-a-rug comfy in San Diego but he’s not an everyday answer.

When the early numbers rolled in, you still were reluctant to believe.

Profar has been Mr. Utility Knife across his decade in baseball. He was an outfielder when you needed. An infielder when you needed. A pinch hitter when you needed. The clubhouse guy you needed.

Yet here we are on the edge of June, a couple hundred at-bats in, and Profar is ... an All-Star?

At this pace, he should be. Keep up this pace and he will be.

“One-hundred percent yes,” bat-savvy teammate Luis Arraez said before the Marlins strolled past the Padres 9-1 Wednesday at Petco Park. “He deserves it.”

Jurickson Profar hits a two-run home run against the Marlins during Monday’s game.

(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

It’s all a bit of a jaw-dropper with a slice of delicious cosmic timing. On a team filled with plump salaries — 14 of his teammates are paid more — Profar is a $1 million revelation.

Coming into the finale against the Marlins, he ranked No. 1 among everyday left fielders in average, on-base percentage, on-base-plus-slugging percentage, RBIs, hits and batting average on balls in play.

Profar is No. 2 across all of left field-dom in slugging percentage and walks. His .323 average entering Wednesday was fifth in the majors. His on-base percentage of .419, second.

The numbers scream All-Star. History wonders why and how.

Profar always has been solid, though closer to average than sublime. His 162-game pace during his career is .243 with an OPS nearly 200 points lower.

There’s improvement. Then in the case of Profar, there’s strapping yourself onto a Titan rocket and punching in the launch code. He could become a first-time All Star in his 11th season.

“Usually after 10 years, you stop making All-Stars,” Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriguez said. “I had the same thing with Carlos Santana in Cleveland. After 10 years, he made the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger. It was one of the best feelings I’ve had in my career.

“Profar, he’s an All Star, no doubt.”

Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar (10) makes a catch against the Rockies during the third inning of their May 15 game.

(Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Start here: Profar has been the best player and biggest surprise on the Padres, period.

The murkier question is, how did it happen?

Rodriguez and Profar agree they unlocked a more balanced swing by working on both sides of the plate. As a switch hitter, Profar used to focus solely on the left side if the starting pitcher that day was a righty.

Now, both swings receive equal attention.

“Me and (Rodriguez) had a talk in spring training,” Profar said before going 1-for-3 Wednesday with a nine-pitch walk and highlight-reel catch at the wall. “He had really good switch-hitting players like (Francisco) Lindor, José Ramírez and Carlos Santana. I asked him, ‘What can I do to be good on both sides?’

“I started switch-hitting a little late, so I was always focusing on left-handed, but I’m a natural righty. My right hand was always behind, because I was focusing on getting good on the left side.

“This year, he came up with a routine, practicing every day (from) both sides, no matter who’s pitching. It’s really helped me.”

Rodriguez said expanding Profar’s approach has paid clear dividends.

“The main thing he’s doing, his preparation has been outstanding,” Rodriguez said. “In the past, he used to work one side. If the pitcher was righty, he only worked lefty. Now he makes sure he does his work on both sides. He’s trying to get the same feeling on both sides and that has allowed him to be in a better place.”

Jurickson Profar hits a two-RBI double in the fourth inning of the Padres’ May 1 game.

(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Profar summed it up efficiently.

“All the work that I have done is finally paying off,” said Profar, who had four hits in the series with just one strikeout.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, a former bench coach with the Padres, saw something else new.

“He made an adjustment,” Schumaker said. “The small leg kick and being on time, it’s more powerful. They’ve done a really good job over there identifying something to unlock the power and potential he’s always had. He was a top prospect for a long time for a reason. Injuries kind of derailed him early on.

“And some players just fit in certain clubhouses and organizations. He’s one of the better players in the league. Righty, lefty, the power. He’s playing really good defense. For me, he’s an All-Star.”

Fans clamored for the Padres to scoop up dangling free agent Tommy Pham in the offseason. Though Pham eventually landed with the White Sox and has been solid, he has not matched Profar.

Pham hit .294 as Wednesday dawned, 29 points lower than Profar. The OPS? It’s 145 points less. Five fewer home runs. Twenty-three fewer RBIs.

The season of his life? In Year 11?

“The worst thing someone can tell you is: ‘This is who you are,’” Schumaker said. “There’s always ways to improve and get better. You see that in pitchers a lot. They go to different facilities and come back and they’re throwing harder or whatever.

“But it’s rare to see that in a hitter. That’s why it’s more impressive to see 10 years in.”

Jurickson Profar hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of the Padres’ May 13 game against Colorado.

(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Though Profar is only 31, it feels like there’s more mileage on his tires because of how long he’s been in the big leagues. He came up at age 19 with the Rangers, collecting a homer among two hits in his debut.

Profar faced the pressure of being a superstar in the making. He failed to live up to that with the Texas Rangers. Now, he’s playing like the guy most envisioned.

That delicious slice of the cosmos?

The All-Star Game is being held at the home of the Rangers. When that fact was brought up, Profar grabbed his cellphone to point at the date on the lock screen.

“The All-Stars is in July,” Profar said with a laugh. “This is May 29th. That’s far away. I just focus on today. What can I do to help my team win today?”

All those todays could lead to some fascinating tomorrows.

Especially July 16.