Rangers’ Profar prepared to lose this season to injuries

Jurickson Profar knows that this season is likely a lost cause.

The Texas Rangers projected everyday second baseman has been dealing with right shoulder issues since spring training and suffered another setback less than two weeks ago during his rehab.

Asked if he would play this year, Profar said: “I don’t know. I don’t think so. We’ve got to get it fixed. We’ve got to get it right, so if I have to lose this year, I will lose it.”

Profar, 21, doesn’t know what prompted his latest setback. He said he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t lift his arm.

“I was in pain,” Profar said.

Profar has been completely shut down since then and will not resume working out until he is pain free.

It’s a blow for the Rangers and Profar, who was expected to have a breakout season after spending his rookie year in a utility role.

The Rangers were reluctant to call up 20-year-old Rougned Odor to start the season, but went that route last month. Odor has played well, batting .281 with one home run and 11 RBIs entering Tuesday.

Harrison has surgery

Matt Harrison had spinal fusion surgery in his lower back Tuesday, an operation that could put his career in jeopardy.

Harrison was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis after he left a May 13 start at Houston with back tightness. Spine specialist Drew Dossett performed the surgery that fused the L-5, S-1 disks.

Harrison has dealt with back issues the past two seasons. He had two surgeries to repair a herniated disk more than a year ago, but returned to the big leagues this year.

He felt the back discomfort in his fourth start and this latest operation could end his career. There are few examples of players returning from such a surgery.

But Harrison has said he is going to try and do it.

Harrison, 28, was an All-Star in 2012 and was rewarded with a five-year, $55 million contract the following off-season.

Darvish to stay in turn

Yu Darvish is going to remain on normal rest this time through the rotation and start Friday. Nick Tepesch is getting pushed back to Saturday.

Manager Ron Washington said Darvish had extra rest when he was scratched from a scheduled start with neck stiffness on the last road trip. Darvish returned Sunday in Washington, throwing eight scoreless innings in a 102-pitch outing.

The break also gives Tepesch extended rest after he lasted only two innings in his start Saturday.

“I didn’t see anything different in his stuff, just where he put it,” Washington said.

Briefly

This story was originally published June 3, 2014 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Rangers’ Profar prepared to lose this season to injuries."