Rangers considering options for Alberto, Profar after Odor returns

Manager Jeff Banister said that the Texas Rangers could keep Hanser Alberto and Jurickson Profar on the bench after Rougned Odor returns to the active roster Saturday after serving a seven-game suspension.

That’s one option the Rangers are considering for their bench and for their young infielders, who each have a case for staying on the roster and avoiding a demotion to Triple A Round Rock.

A final decision could come down to how comfortable the Rangers feel with Profar playing third base in his comeback season after missing two years because of a shoulder injury.

“One of the things we continue to do is we still look at all possibilities, what’s necessary and what we try to be prepared for,” Banister said. “However, we’ve got a guy that’s up here to play second base. Let’s let him continue to play second base. We’ve still got a few days left.”

Profar entered Tuesday hitting .333 after four games as Odor’s fill-in and will play second base Wednesday and Friday before Odor returns. Profar is a better offensive player than Alberto.

Alberto’s case is boosted by his ability to play third, a position Profar hasn’t played since 2013. Ryan Rua also has some experience at third, most recently over three innings there May 5 in a blowout loss at Toronto and also 203 games in the minors.

The Rangers could keep Profar as their utility man if they feel comfortable using Rua at third if Adrian Beltre were to need a day off. Profar said that he doesn’t like being a utility man but is willing to do it in the short term.

He’s also confident that he could handle third base.

The Rangers will have to add right-hander Shawn Tolleson to the active roster Thursday after his seven-day stint on the MLB family emergence medical list ends. Tolleson threw a 30-pitch session of live batting practice Tuesday at Double A Frisco. Odor and Shin-Soo Choo faced minor-leaguer Jose Monegro in live BP at Globe Life Park.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Rangers considering options for Alberto, Profar after Odor returns."