The Texas Rangers started Jurickson Profar at first base on Tuesday night in a creative way of keeping his bat in the lineup.

Profar, who had never taken a ground ball at first base at any level of baseball until Monday afternoon, was called up to replace then-suspended Rougned Odor.

He made his first eight starts at second base, but played so well during Odor's seven-game suspension, the Rangers decided to keep Profar in the Majors Leagues as long as he could play four games a week.

The Rangers plan to use Profar at first, second, shortstop and designated hitter.

"He's a utility player right now based on the need to keep his bat in the lineup," Jeff Banister said. "He's a shortstop by trade, so he's played a premium position on the field. He's played second base, so he's been on that side of the diamond and I feel confident he can catch ground balls.

"I know he can play catch, so he's going to catch balls thrown to him. He's played shortstop and third base, so balls in the dirt are probably not that much of a challenge. It's the footwork that's a little bit different. He showed signs the footwork [is] OK, and I feel confident the instincts and awareness are going to allow him to play over there."

Profar, 23, went 2-for-4 on Tuesday without an error.