Jurickson Profar's original idea upon his first promotion to the big leagues in 2012 was to be the Rangers' everyday second baseman and play alongside Elvis Andrus up the middle of the Rangers' defense for years to come.
Injuries and a guy named Rougned Odor have now made that plan history.
Unless the Rangers could get a team to take on Andrus and a nice chunk of the remaining millions he's owed, it looks like Andrus is here to stay for the long haul. And frankly, he's been playing pretty well this year and is living up to his contract, at least through the first two months of the season.
Now that Odor is three games in to his seven-game suspension for the punch heard 'round the world, Profar is getting his first crack at the majors since 2013, and so far, so good.
The Rangers wasted no time with Profar in what could amount to nothing more than a showcase for a possible deadline deal this summer as they put him right in the leadoff spot and at second base to compensate for the Odor suspension. And Profar, who's still just 23 years old, is producing.
He's batting .385 with a triple and three runs in his 13 at-bats since debuting on Friday, and if he can keep up that clip until Odor is back, he could be sent down to continue to succeed at Triple-A and be a magnificent trade chip come the July trade deadline or even into the winter.
While his stay in Arlington might only be a short-term one, it's looking like it's going to be nothing but positive both for Profar and the Rangers.
