Update, 11:30 a.m. Thursday: This story has been updated to clarify Delino DeShields' handedness. He is a right-handed hitter.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Rangers manager Jeff Banister wanted to create competition for the left field spot this spring.

Instead, he may have created a monster.

A three-headed monster.

This freak has speed and power and can hit from both sides of the plate. Now, the only issue may be figuring out how to get enough playing time to justify its long-term existence, or at least the space on the roster. The truth, though, is Ryan Rua, Jurickson Profar and Delino DeShields have all performed well enough this spring for the manager to try to make a go of it.

The other truth: The bulk of playing time available is in left field, meaning they may have to split the position into thirds. The versatility of all three, however, gives Banister an opportunity to get them starts at other positions. Just consider Wednesday's lineup against the Los Angeles Angels. It included all three players. DeShields played left, Profar short and Rua first base. All play multiple positions.

"I think we can fashion a pretty versatile option in multiple spots and multiple situations," Banister said. "Left field is the spot they are all grinding for, but there are other places to get them playing time. And it's about getting three players playing time to maintain their sharpness. If that happens, it's a great luxury to have. It has been one of the most fun competitive situations I've seen."

On Thursday, they were at it again.

DeShields, who provides the speed component in the trio, led off the first with a walk, his ninth of the spring. He promptly stole second and then third to keep him perfect in nine attempts this spring.

Though Profar struck out in his first at-bat after hitting .464 for The Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, Rua poked a single through the right side against a drawn in infield to score DeShields. It extended his spring training hitting streak to nine games and extended his team lead in RBIs. He has 10.

Given no guarantees this spring, Rua has done what he's done each of the past two years: impressed the coaching staff.

"I obviously love the competitive nature of the guy," Banister said. "He meets the challenges and improves swinging the bat every year."

The next time through the order, DeShields walked again, and Profar lined a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center field.

A three-man platoon is an unusual, if not unprecedented, division of playing time. The versatility of the players makes it a bit more feasible.

Here is how things might be loosely constructed:

Rua: He would get the majority of the at-bats against left-handers as the left fielder, but could also slide over to right field to create an all right-handed hitting outfield when the Rangers choose to sit Nomar Mazara.

Profar: He would face most of the right-handers as the left fielder. Profar is a switch hitter but has been far more successful from the left side. Profar could also play first base against some right-handers, when the Rangers want to rest Mike Napoli. And he'd be the guy when Banister gives any of the other infielders a random day off, as well.

DeShields: He would be the backup center fielder to Carlos Gomez and would get some starts in left when the Rangers want to go heavily right-handed. He would be a pinch running option on days he doesn't start. He could be used as a defensive replacement for Rua or Mazara, but not Profar. Since Profar is likely to be the only backup infielder on the bench, the Rangers can't afford to remove him from games once he's been inserted into the lineup.

"They are three completely different players," Banister said. "They can help us win games in different ways."

The monster, it appears, is alive and hitting.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant