Danny Santana leaves game after HBP

Texas Rangers infielder Danny Santana left today’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 9th inning after being hit in the ankle by a pitch. He went down in obvious pain, and ended up having to be helped off the field.

Santana is a critical part of the Rangers bench right now, as he is both the utility infielder and the backup center fielder. If he has to miss time, with Elvis Andrus already on the injured list, it would put the Rangers in a difficult position, as there’s not an obvious candidate in the system that they could call up who could fill both roles.

UPDATE — Per John Blake, x-rays on the ankle are negative, which would suggest he shouldn’t miss significant time.