Danny Santana struggled early, but Texas Rangers glad to welcome him back from IL
No matter how poorly Danny Santana hit to start the season, and he hit really poorly, he was in the Texas Rangers’ lineup on Opening Day because he earned it.
And five bad games, and a stint on the 10-day injured list, didn’t cost him a spot.
So, Santana is going to be a regular player once again for the Rangers, who look at what he did last season, when he didn’t hit really poorly, and hope he can be that player again for a team that is still struggling offensively.
Santana will be limited to only designated hitter and first base for a few games until his arm regains its throwing strength, but within the next 10 days should be able to play across the infield and in center field.
To make room for Santana, manager Chris Woodward will be sitting players who have been playing regularly. Those players, some of whom have been among the handful of productive Rangers hitters this season, have been warned.
The theory is that Woodward will have more flexibility, and the Rangers will add a quality hitter to the middle of the lineup.
But Santana must to be productive for the theory to work.
“Yeah, he didn’t get off to a great start, but since he’s been hurt, he looks pretty good now,” Woodward said. “I’m starting to see the Danny Santana that we got to see a lot last year that carried our team for months.
“I want to get him back in there. If we can get Danny Santana rolling, he’s a big part of our offense. If we get him hot, he can carry us for the rest of the year. We need him.”
Santana, who was reinstated from the IL on Sunday, started at DH on Monday to open a two-game series against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field. Willie Calhoun was on the bench.
He opened the season batting third and returned to the lineup Monday batting second. The Rangers have seen production from Joey Gallo, Todd Frazier and Nick Solak in the middle of the lineup, but have also seen Calhoun and Rougned Odor struggle.
Santana took at-bats in simulated games and live batting practices at the alternate camp site, as his forearm was not affected by swinging. He delivered a pinch RBI single Sunday in the Rangers’ 10-6 loss.
He said Monday that he feels like he did last season, when he was the Rangers Player of the Year after swatting 28 home runs and playing seven different positions. He opened the 2019 season at Triple A Nashville despite a productive spring.
But he went 1 for 17 to start this season, including an 0-for-14 skid before hitting the IL during which he chased too many pitches out of the strike zone.
Fixing that was his focus while on the IL.
“Just patience and better pitch selection,” Santana said.
While keeping Santana at DH and first base to protect his arm limits roster flexibility, Woodward will gain significant flexibility once he finishes his four-week throwing program. Santana in his third week of that.
In the meantime, Santana said he is willing to play his least favorite position, first base, to help him get at-bats and get back into a groove.
If Odor continues to be a liability offensively and in the field, Santana becomes a fourth option at second base. Once he’s able to play center field, Solak could move to second if Odor is still in a funk.
Woodward will have his hands full trying to balance playing time for everyone, but the potential Santana could add to the offense is worth it.
“Danny is a big part of our team,” Woodward said. “It’s a puzzle that I’m going to have to figure out and try to keep everybody happy, which is impossible, but I just ask all these guys to be professional and make sure that they are not pouting or getting upset that they are not playing as much as they would like.”
