ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Kinsler's bad ribs have opened the door for a roster spot for Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar.
Kinsler, who hasn't started the last two games, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a right intercostal strain. The club recalled Profar from Round Rock to take his spot.
Kinsler hurt his ribs last weekend in Houston and then aggravated them again Thursday when he was hit by a Justin Verlander pitch.
The Rangers believe Kinsler will be ready to go when he's eligible to come off the DL on June 2. He hit in the batting cages Sunday but didn't feel comfortable, necessitating the move.
"It might have been five or six (days) but we just want to make certain," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "That's all. We just want to make certain. Right now it will be 15. If we tried to push it, there's no telling how long it could have been."
Profar didn't start Sunday as Leury Garcia got the nod at second base alongside Elvis Andrus.
Profar, who played in nine games last year for the Rangers, was batting .278 for Round Rock. He's coming off a two-homer game Saturday.
Washington plans to start Profar on Monday.
"He will play but I'm not going to stop playing Garcia either," Washington said. "This is his (Garcia's) opportunity to play a little bit and try to keep him in a little groove there why he has a chance. Now I have two kids. I can spell Elvis here or there."
Profar had hits in his last eight games with Round Rock and has played both second base and shortstop.
"Obviously I feel bad for what happened to Kinsler but he's going to be back soon," said Profar, who batted .176 in his 17 at-bats last year with the Rangers. "It's an opportunity for me to play here. I've been working hard all season and working on some things. It's different baseball there (in Triple A). You've got a lot of off-speed stuff and you have to adjust to the pitching and go from there."
