Profar homers for Texas in first at-bat
Infielder Jurickson Profar, the Texas Rangers' heralded top prospect, was called up to the majors on Saturday and made his major-league debut on Sunday.
It took him all of one swing to make an impact, too.
Profar, 19, became the first player in Texas history to homer in his first at-bat, thus setting the tone for an 8-3 win over Cleveland.
Profar was inserted into the lineup late because second baseman Ian Kinsler had some back stiffness and was a late scratch.
"This kid is not afraid of the game," manager Ron Washington said. "That's why he's been able to do the things he's done. He just went and got his stuff and played. ... This kid is blessed."
Profar, a switch-hitter, led off the third inning of a scoreless game against right-hander Zach McAllister. On a 2-1 fastball, Profar, hitting from the left side, drove a ball into the right-field seats.
"When I hit the ball, I was thinking, 'Go, go, go, go,'" Profar said. "A little pressure came off."
Profar became the 114th player in major-league history -- and the third this season -- to homer in his first at-bat. He is the third teenager to do it, following former New York Giant Whitey Lockman, who did it in 1945 at the age of 18. Ted Tappe did it at 19 with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950.
He is the sixth Ranger to homer in his first major-league game, following Ruben Mateo (1999), Rusty Greer (1994), Ruben Sierra (1986) and George Wright (1982).
And at 19 years and 195 days old, he is the youngest player to homer in a major-league game since teammate Adrian Beltre, who homered for the Los Angeles Dodgers at 19 years and 171 days in 1998.
