WASHINGTON _ Jurickson Profar returned to the Texas Rangers on Friday after playing every day the past month at Triple A Round Rock and finding the rhythm at the plate he was lacking after making the Opening Day roster.
Adrian Beltre was at Nationals Park, too, and, yes, also on the active roster.
Profar was recalled before the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Washington Nationals, and left-hander Dario Alvarez was sent to Round Rock. Profar started at third base as the Rangers tried to buy time for Beltre's sprained left ankle.
"If I play every day, everything is going to be good," said Profar, who called his time in Round Rock "fun" rather than getting down about it. "Play hard every day, and everything is going to work out."
Beltre could still end up on the disabled list, but he said that the ankle was feeling better as he walked on it without a protective boot. He took batting practice and ground balls before the game, and even signed a few autographs.
The DL decision was pending.
"We're going to let him go through the day," manager Jeff Banister said. "That decision has not been officially made yet."
Beltre said that one of the options the Rangers were considering was letting him spend the weekend on the bench as a pinch-hitter, though hopefully not having to use him. He spoke with Shin-Soo Choo, who sprained his ankle in 2014 in a similar manner by twisting it awkwardly lunging into first base.
Choo missed a week's worth of games, though none were interleague games, but later admitted he could have used time on the DL. Choo also had surgery on the ankle after the season.
"I understand what the situation is, but I want to know exactly where my body is," Beltre said. "I'm going to try to buy the most days I can."
