Rangers activate Andrus after his first trip to the DL
Stephen Piscotty of the Athletics is tagged out by Elvis Andrus of the Rangers attempting to extend a single in the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on April 5, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Elvis Andrus is back in the Texas lineup after his first trip to the disabled list.
Andrus, a two-time All-Star for the Rangers, was activated Monday for the series opener against the Kansas City Royals. He missed 59 games after a pitch by Kenyan Middleton broke his right elbow in an April 11 game against the Los Angeles Angels.
He had been inactive for only three of the Rangers' 1,515 games since making his debut on opening day in 2009. He was suspended for a 2016 game and was on the paternity list for two games in 2017.
"He's never gone through this," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He's never not played in 10 years. This is the first time."
Texas went 25-34 without Andrus, who hit .327 with two home runs and five RBIs in 14 games before the injury.
"A guy that has played 10 consecutive years you don't replace," Banister said. "You miss everything he does and what he was able to do. He was our three-hole hitter and one of the better centerpieces of the offense. He did a lot of things for us offensively. Obviously, he was one of the leaders with (Adrian) Beltre on defense."
Andrus went 1-for-24 with three walks in a seven-game rehab assignment in the minors.
Jurickson Profar, who had four RBIs Sunday in the victory over Colorado, started 56 games at shortstop in Andrus' absence. He started at second on Monday against the Royals, will play third on Tuesday and be the designated hitter Wednesday.
"He played very well," Banister said. "He became one of the better hitters in our lineup. I thought he progressively got better defensively."
He said the plan is to play Rougned Odor, Profar and Beltre five games a week.
In other roster moves, the Rangers recalled right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock, optioned catcher Jose Trevino to Double-A Frisco and designated for assignment right-hander Dick McGuire, who was claimed off waivers last week from Toronto.
Rookie utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa will become the backup catcher. He will make his first major league start behind the plate Wednesday. He has started at third base, second base and shortstop.
"He's earned the right to be here and to do it here," Banister said.