Profar becomes youngest Rangers DH

ARLINGTON -- Manager Ron Washington's efforts to get Jurickson Profar into the lineup led to a bit of trivia being created on Monday night. Profar, who is 20 years and 117 days old, was batting leadoff as the Rangers' designated hitter.

Profar is the youngest player to ever be used as the designated hitter in the leadoff spot since the position was created by the American League in 1973. He was also the youngest designated hitter in Rangers history. The previous youngest was Sammy Sosa, who was 20 years and 231 days on July 1, 1989, against the Mariners and Randy Johnson.

Washington normally does not like pushing young players into a prominent spot in the batting order. But Profar has handled it so far. In four previous games at the top of the order, Profar was 6-for-19 (.316) with a walk.

"If you look at what I have, we've done this before and he's responded," Washington said.

Ian Kinsler normally bats leadoff but Washington dropped him to No. 3 on Sunday to give Lance Berkman a day off. That marked the end of 306 consecutive starts for Kinsler in the leadoff spot. Kinsler batted third again on Monday but Washington said he'll be back in the leadoff spot on Tuesday when Berkman returns to the lineup.

Kinsler went into Monday's game 0-for-8 with two walks in two games since returning from the disabled list.

"My timing was a little off but [Sunday] I felt good," Kinsler said. "I felt I had good quality at-bats and my timing was back. Hopefully I can get a couple of balls to fall in."