ARLINGTON -- Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo exited Tuesday night’s 7-4 win against the Diamondbacks with a left ankle injury after an infield single in the sixth inning.
Manager Skip Schumaker said postgame that Nimmo sprained his ankle, but the X-rays were clear and he’s going to be day to day.
Nimmo connected with a slow roller up the right side of the infield and sprinted down the line to try to beat out the play at first base. He did so, but not before stepping on Ildemaro Vargas’ foot and landing awkwardly.
He limped heavily back to the bag and initially stayed in the game for one more batter. Sam Haggerty pinch-ran for him shortly afterward.
Nimmo was 3-for-4 with a triple and a pair of singles when he exited the game.
“He didn't want to come out of the game,” Schumaker said. “He's been a pain in my butt, trying to take him out of the game, which is a good thing. He'll try to tell you he's going to play tomorrow. That's just who he is. So hopefully we dodged a bullet, which would be great, but we will see how he wakes up tomorrow.”
Nimmo had a few days off due to nagging hamstring issues over the last few weeks, but ultimately avoided the injured list as the Rangers maximized scheduled off-days to get him off his feet when necessary.
He believes they avoided a scare once again with his ankle.
“Your ankle and your foot, that’s the closest thing to the ground where you create all your power and you get your speed from,” Nimmo said. “It is an important part and it needs to feel pretty dang good. I think it's just going to be a feel thing for me. If I feel like we can tape it up and we can take some pain meds and whatnot and be good to go, then we'll probably go. If I feel like it's going to hinder and possibly open us up to more injury, then we’ll take some days off.”