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Texas Rangers

39-31,
2nd AL West

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Yahoo! Sports - 15 hours, 28 minutes ago

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It appears infielder Jurickson Profar, who began the year as the top-ranked prospect in all of baseball, is here to stay.

When the Rangers activated second baseman Ian Kinsler from the DL on June 15, Profar, who had been called up as Kinsler's replacement, remained with the big-league club. The Rangers instead optioned infielder Leury Garcia to the minors.

The intent is to make Profar a "super utility" player for the remainder of the year so he can get regular playing time by spelling regulars at second base, shortstop, third base, DH and the corner outfield spots.

There is only one issue with the plan. Uh, make that two issues: He's never played third base or the outfield.

He is learning fast, however. On the same day the Rangers activated Kinsler, Profar began outfield tutorials. The next day, he began learning third base, then made his first career start there so that third baseman Adrian Beltre and his achy hamstrings could move to DH for a day. Struggling DH Lance Berkman got a day off. Expect more of these kinds of shuffling of the lineup, manager Ron Washington said.

"When I decide it's time for him to play, it's going to be time for him to play," Washington said. "When I tell (veterans) they've got a day off, he's going to play. We've got to find out how we're going to do it."

"It's what is in the team's best interests," GM Jon Daniels said. "We felt with Profar in the mix and getting playing time, we are a better club."

Washington's statement suggests a change in stance, even from earlier in the week, when he said he would consider suggestions from -- gasp! -- even the media on how to shoehorn Profar into the lineup with All-Stars at both middle infield positions.

Washington was criticized last September for not using Profar enough after his Sept. 1 call-up as the Rangers faded late in the season.

Profar's position is not surprising for a 20-year-old rookie. He's willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the major leagues.

"It doesn't matter," Profar said. "It's baseball. That's what I want to do -- play baseball."

The Rangers view Profar as a potential spark plug for a struggling offense. On Sunday, he hit leadoff with Kinsler sliding down to the No. 3 hole. Profar was 1-for-4 in the Rangers' 7-2 loss to Toronto. He went 1-for-4 once again batting leadoff as the DH in Monday's 8-7 victory over the A's.

Record:

39-31

Streak:

Won one

Past 10 Games:

3-7

NEXT: Rangers (Yu Darvish, 7-2, 2.64) vs. A's (Jarrod Parker, 5-6, 4.45)

Player Notes:

DH Lance Berkman was out of the lineup Monday, his second straight off game, to get some extra rest, manager Ron Washington said. Berkman is slated to be back in the lineup Tuesday.
RHP Yu Darvish is working a career-long streak of four straight no-decisions. He is 0-1 despite a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts. Darvish also has gone at least seven innings in five decisions this season, the most such starts for a Texas pitcher since Kenny Rogers had five in 2002. Darvish leads the majors with 126 strikeouts.
DH Jurickson Profar became the youngest player in club history to start at designated hitter Monday. Profar is 20 years, 117 days old, while Sammy Sosa was 20 years, 231 days old on July 1, 1989 when he started against Seattle.
RF Nelson Cruz homered twice and was 3-for-4 Monday. He led an offensive outburst for a team that last scored more than two runs on June 10 and had its most hits (12) this month. The right fielder drove in four runs and pushed his team-leading home run total to 18.
1B Mitch Moreland (strained right hamstring) was scheduled to play in his second of three minor league rehab games Tuesday. He is eligible to return from the 15-day DL on June 21.
RHP Colby Lewis had a bullpen session Monday, which is considered progress. Lewis' previous work off the mound was in late May. He's been out all season since having surgery to repair a torn lexor tendon in his throwing elbow last season.
RHP Joakim Soria threw between 35-40 pitches Monday in a bullpen session Monday. He could begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Frisco.
OF Jeff Baker (sprained right thumb) could be available Wednesday or Thursday, manager Ron Washington said. Baker was injured June 13 high-fiving with a teammate.

Quote To Note:

"It was huge. Everybody did their job. That's the team that we are."

—RF Nelson Cruz, of Monday's 8-7 comeback win over the A's that snapped the Rangers' six-game skid.

Medical Watch:

IF Jeff Baker (sprained thumb) was injured high-fiving a teammate June 13. He could be available June 19 or June 20, manager Ron Washington said.
1B Mitch Moreland (right hamstring strain) went on the 15-day disabled list June 6. He's scheduled to play in his second of three minor league rehab games June 18. He is eligible to return from the 15-day DL on June 21.
RHP Colby Lewis (right flexor tendon surgery in July 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 6. He began throwing live batting practice April 8, and he pitched in extended spring training May 4. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on May 9, but his rehab was then shut down due to triceps soreness. Lewis began a new rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on May 20, and he started for Round Rock on May 25. On May 28 the team shut him down due to muscular soreness in the back of his right elbow. He was given a platelet-rich-plasma injection. He had a bullpen session June 17, which is considered progress.
LHP Michael Kirkman (recurrence of cutaneous lymphoma on right triceps) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 7, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 12. The cancer, which will be treated with radiation sessions, was found during a routine screening in May by Rangers doctors. He was first diagnosed with skin cancer in the same area in January 2012.
RHP Alexi Ogando (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list June 9. He was out May 16-June 4 due to right biceps tendinitis. He will throw June 14.
LHP Matt Harrison (lower-back soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 25. He had surgery April 23 to repair a herniated disk. He underwent a second operation May 1. He is shooting for an August return.
RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 9. He began throwing live batting practice April 8. Soria suffered a setback in his recovery when he strained a muscle in his chest throwing live batting practice on April 19 at the club's spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. The Rangers hoped to have him back by early June, but instead won't get him back until July. He resumed throwing off a mound June 6. He started throwing "live" batting practice to Rangers hitters June 14 and threw between 35-40 pitches June 17 in a bullpen session. He could begin a rehab assignment June 20 with Double-A Frisco.
RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John surgery in August 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 24. He has started throwing off a mound in Arizona. He is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.