ST. PETERSBURG -- Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar is being evaluated in Major League Baseball's concussion protocol after getting upended by a baserunner and landing on the right side of his face during Monday's 8-4 loss against the Rays.
Profar will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. If he passes all the tests, he could avoid going on the seven-day concussion disabled list. He walked off the field without assistance and was trying to convince others to let him stay in the game.
"He didn't have a choice," manager Jeff Banister said. "We are in a little different world, a little smarter. As soon as he went down, we made sure he got up, dusted him off, got him in the clubhouse and in to see a doctor."
If Profar has to go through full concussion protocol, the Rangers could be looking at the loss of another middle infielder. Profar will have to pass a series of mandatory tests before he is cleared to play again.
The injury occurred in the second inning. The Rays had the bases loaded and no outs when Joey Wendle hit a ground ball to Profar just to the left of second base. Profar fielded the ball, stepped on second and then threw wildly to first. After Profar made the throw, Rays baserunner Mallex Smith slid in hard and upended him. Profar was flipped over and hit the ground with force.
"I know that the way he landed was awkward," Smith said. "When we connected, he was already kind of leaning forward, but my bottom half hit his bottom half and it kind of catapulted his upper half forward. I didn't know exactly what hit, but I knew his upper body had hit first." 
Profar stayed facedown on the turf for some time, and that's when Rays physician Dr. Koco Eaton and Rangers trainer Kevin Harmon went out to check on him. Once the doctor was out on the field, there was no way Profar was going to stay in the game.
Banister said he saw nothing inappropriate with Smith's slide.
"That was all good," Banister said. "I don't have any issues."
The Rangers lost two middle infielders last week, when Elvis Andrus (fractured right elbow) and Rougned Odor (strained left hamstring) were placed on the disabled list. After Profar left the game, the Rangers were left with Drew Robinson at shortstop and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base.