Rangers want Profar to settle down

SEATTLE -- The Rangers are trying to get rookie infielder Jurickson Profar to be more careful in dealing with umpires. The latest incident came in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.

Profar, batting against reliever Yoervis Medina, was ahead 3-1 in the count. Medina threw one on the outside corner that appeared to be ball four, but home-plate umpire C.B. Bucknor called a strike. Medina then missed with the next pitch, giving Profar a base on balls. Profar reacted by flinging his bat toward the dugout before trotting to first base.

After the inning was over, third-base coach Gary Pettis was among those who talked to Profar about his conduct.

"I just told him, along with other guys, that you have to be careful over what happens," Pettis said. "This game is emotional and you have to try and control it as best you can. I think he understood afterward."

Bucknor stared hard at Profar after he flung his bat, but took no action. But Profar has been told it's not a wise move for a rookie to show up a veteran umpire.

"I've seen guys get thrown out for less than that," Pettis said. "Be satisfied. We need baserunners. We have an opportunity to win a ballgame. Everybody goes through situations where they look back and say, 'What was I thinking?' It's an emotional game. You need to control your emotions, whether something good happens or something bad happens."

Profar went 2-for-5 with a double and a run in Wednesday's 12-4 win over the Mariners.