DeShields injury leads to lineup changes for Rangers

Published Jun. 15, 2015 7:21 p.m. ET

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The hamstring injury to Delino DeShields had made ripple effects on the Texas Rangers Monday.

The Rangers put DeShields on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, one that will likely keep him down for three weeks. Texas brought up second baseman Rougned Odor to replace DeShields on the roster.

Putting Odor in the starting lineup caused a major shift for Texas as the Rangers moved Hanser Alberto to third base, where he's making his first major-league start. Moving Alberto to third pushed third baseman Joey Gallo to left field, where he's also making his first big-league start.

Gallo got in some early work in the outfield Monday. He made six starts in left for Double-A Frisco this year but knows it'll be different at Globe Life Park.

"It's tough," Gallo said. "The sun's right in my face. It's a little bigger stadium to play with than Frisco. It should be all right. After the first few innings with the sun going down I'll be fine. I've never really had to battle the sun playing infield so it should be a little different out there."

For Alberto it won't be much of a change. He started twice for Round Rock at third base but that was his primary position when he played winter ball.

Odor got the nod after batting .352 in 30 games with Round Rock. The Opening Day second baseman for Texas also had five home runs and 19 RBI for the Express. He feels better where he's at now than he did when he was sent down after starting the season by batting .144 in the first month.

"I was feeling much better at home plate," Odor said. "I was working on my swing, my approach. I feel much better right now. I'm the same guy. I'm aggressive I just want to swing at my pitch and don't miss it."

All the moves the Rangers are proof how important DeShields was to the success of the club. The Rangers moved Shin-Soo Choo back to the leadoff spot and are now batting Gallo second in an effort to give him some protection in the lineup with Prince Fielder now hitting behind him.

DeShields will be missed though.

"He's a Rule 5 pick that all the sudden everyone's asking questions about," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "It's a testament to him, what he's been capable of doing and how he's played the game. To me that's the real story."