ARLINGTON -- The Rangers want infielder Jurickson Profar to be able to play multiple positions as a way to get the necessary at-bats to stay sharp, so they worked him out at first base before Monday night's 6-5 win over the Astros.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister doesn't see it being a difficult transition.
"You're talking about a guy [who plays] a premium position -- shortstop. He's played on the second-base side also, that's part of it," Banister said. "I don't think will take him very long. If we get into an emergency situation, he could even play [first] tonight."
Profar, who has not appeared in a game at first base in his professional career, didn't seem too fazed, either.
"There's no challenge," he said. "I just told them to make sure I'm in the right position on cutoffs. Ground balls and throws are the same."
With second baseman Rougned Odor returning from his seven-game suspension, the Rangers will look for ways to keep Profar in the lineup. He's started at designated hitter the past two games as Banister sat Prince Fielder. Fielder was back at first base Monday, with Profar at second and Odor at DH.
"I feel like that he has the capabilities, the instincts and the athleticism to play [first base]," Banister said. "Does he understand some of the subtleties of playing first base? Playing first base will draw that out. I think he could handle it."
Profar is batting .370 with two home runs and had hit safely in all 10 games since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. He tripled and scored in the first and finished 1-for-5 on Monday.

Moreland sits, but not being 'unplugged'
First baseman Mitch Moreland was out of Texas' starting lineup Monday. Banister said he was getting a day off, not getting "unplugged," as Banister said was the case with Fielder on Saturday and Sunday.
"Obviously there are two sides of the baseball, offensively and defensively, for Mitch," Banister said. "That's somewhat of a difference. For Mitch, he is grinding away at all his at-bats, trying to find out where his consistency is."
Moreland entered Monday with five hits in his past 56 at-bats over his past 16 games, dropping his season average to .206.
"I mean, it's part of the game," Moreland said. "You hit some balls into the shift, hit some stuff hard and they don't fall. We've still got four months left in the season. There's still a good chunk of the season left. Just got to go up and continue to hit them hard and try to have a good approach. You know, eventually they start falling and that's kind of where we're at right now."
Rangers beat
• Right-hander A.J. Griffin threw a 25-pitch bullpen before Monday's game. If everything feels good in the next few days, he could begin a rehab assignment Thursday. He's been on the 15-day disabled list since May 8 with right shoulder stiffness.
• Catcher Bobby Wilson said his left toe felt fine after catching a full game Sunday. He fouled a ball off the toe in Friday's win over the Mariners and had it drained Saturday.
• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-3 with an RBI and catcher Robinson Chirinos went 0-for-4 in Triple-A Round Rock's 4-3 win over Oklahoma City on Monday night as both continue their respective rehab assignments.
• The Rangers have released Frisco outfielder Zach Cone, who was the 37th overall pick in the 2011 Draft out of the University of Georgia. Cone was hitting .208 in 36 games at Frisco. Cone was taken four picks ahead of Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who was at the University of South Carolina, and eight picks ahead of rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who was drafted by the Rockies out of Irving High School.