Profar Dealing With Shoulder Issue

Texas Rangers fans might have freaked out a bit on Wednesday when news came out that Jurickson Profar is dealing with shoulder tendinitis that will force him to be delayed when spring training opens in Surprise, Ariz., next week when pitchers and catchers report.

Profar, who is preparing to be vaulted into an everyday starting role at second base after the Ian Kinsler trade to Detroit, will have to start spring training after the rest of the Rangers' infielders.

Profar can swing a bat, run and do almost everything except throw, so it's likely he'll start Cactus League games as a designated hitter until he can get into the field and play second base, Rangers GM Jon Daniels told ESPN Dallas.

"It's not expected to last beyond that," Daniels told ESPN Dallas. "The good thing is that majority of what the developmental guys wanted him to work at is the footwork — around the bag and on the pivot. He’ll still be able to participate and do those things, [and] team fundamentals and all the things he needs to get ready."

Profar will turn 21 in a week and is a year removed from being baseball's top prospect before a disappointing 2013 in a role that many people thought was a bad one for the youngster.

Instead of getting 500 at-bats in Round Rock, Profar served in a super-utility role, getting roughly two starts a week and was often nothing more than a bench bat. He hit .234 with six home runs.

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