"He's a special kid. He's not afraid of baseball."
That's what Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington had to say about his "little kid" of a player, Jurickson Profar, after Profar made his MLB debut on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland a day after he was called up from Double-A Frisco.
Profar got the start at second base on Sunday in place of Ian Kinsler, who was dealing with back stiffness. At 19 years and 195 days of age, Profar debuted at the exact same age, right down to the day, as Washington Nationals' phenom Bryce Harper. But Profar's debut was more of a spectacle when you look at his line — 2-for-4, HR, 2B.
And it wasn't just a normal home run. Profar became the first player in Rangers history to homer in his major league debut when he put the Rangers on the board in the third inning with a 391-foot blast to right field. Later, he doubled to the opposite field. He's the second youngest player in league history to homer in his first at-bat.
If Kinsler's injury is extended for any amount of time, Profar will get plenty of playing time unless Washington decides to give all of that time to Michael Young.
But judging by Washington's quote, you'd have to think Profar will get his fair share.
