With Shin-Soo Choo spending all but 5 1/2 games this year on the disabled list, the Rangers' best bet as a leadoff hitter hasn't been available.
Rougned Odor has given it a go, but his lack of walks makes him a fringe candidate to be a long-term answer at that spot in the lineup, at best.
With that said, he's been the Rangers' leadoff man for much of the season and now he's gone for seven games — sent into baseball detention for seven games and giving way to former top prospect Jurickson Profar, who will take his place at second base.
Could Profar take Odor's place in the lineup, as well? It's possible, but here are the few options the Rangers have to hit leadoff in Odor's absence.
Jurickson Profar — He's been hitting leadoff in Round Rock, and he's been hitting the ball pretty well. He's also been getting on base. The biggest piece of supporting evidence for Profar would be the fact the rest of the lineup could stay intact as a simple swap for Odor. But you'd think, especially in his first few games, Jeff Banister might want to bury him in the bottom third to get him some good pitches to swing at.
Ian Desmond — Desmond has been the Rangers' best hitter this year, outside of the first 12 games of the season. Theoretically, your best hitter should be in leadoff because that means — you guessed it — the most possible at-bats. But Desmond is such a boss in the No. 2 spot.
Elvis Andrus — Andrus has tried and failed to be the Rangers' leadoff hitter more than once in his career. That said, he's having one of the best years at the plate in his career. How much of that has to do with him hitting sixth or seventh and not first or second? Probably a lot, but it could be worth a shot.
