Jurickson Profar sprinted around the bases with a big smile after putting the Rangers ahead for good.
Maybe the only person happier than the 20-year-old rookie was his veteran manager.
Profar hit a tiebreaking home run with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday, lifting the Texas Rangers over the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Profar connected off J.C. Gutierrez (0-1) for his second homer, a solo shot that put Texas ahead 2-1.
Manager Ron Washington was the first to greet Profar in the dugout. With a big grin of his own, Washington snagged the batting helmet off Profar's head before he was mobbed by teammates.
"What I get a kick out of is he's not afraid of baseball," Washington said. "Opportunities like today are what that young kid lives for. No one in the ballpark expected that. But he gave us a lift right there. He rose to the occasion."
Profar was recalled from the minors to replace injured second baseman Ian Kinsler on May 19.
The top prospect is hitting .324 and hit his second homer in 10 games this season.
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"I was just trying to get on base," Profar said. "I guess I did a little better there."
David Murphy added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 3-1.
